A controlled method to synthesize Hybrid In₂O₃/Ag nanochains and nanoparticles: surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Hybrid In₂O₃/Ag nanochains and nanoparticles were synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of indium nitrate and silver nitrate with or without PVP in an ethylene glycol solution at 230 °C for 20 h followed by annealing at 450 °C for 5 h. The compositions of the resulting In₂O₃/Ag nanochains and nanoparticles were confirmed by XRD, XPS, and EDS. The morphology was investigated with SEM and TEM. On the basis of the experimental results, a surfactant-induced formation mechanism was proposed to account for the growth processes. Hybrid In₂O ₃/Ag nanochains and nanoparticles were confirmed by their surface-enhanced Raman scattering signal. Further, calculations were carried out with the density function theory to confirm the variation of the band structure of the In₂O₃/Ag nanocomposites compared to pure In ₂O₃ compounds.