What Is Gallium Oxide?
Gallium oxide is a white powder inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ga2O3, a molecular weight of 187.44, and a CAS registration number of 12024-21-4. It is recognized for its chemical stability under recommended storage conditions.
For storage, it is advised to use glass as a safe container and packaging material, keeping the product in a sealed container in a cool, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Applications of Gallium Oxide
Gallium oxide serves as a key raw material for green phosphors and substrates in LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), which are increasingly replacing traditional fluorescent lamps and bulbs in lighting. Furthermore, power semiconductor devices utilizing gallium oxide are anticipated to be more compact and efficient, offering reduced loss due to lower resistance during conduction compared to devices made from silicon carbide.
Properties of Gallium Oxide
This compound is soluble in various acids, including hydrochloric acid, but almost insoluble in water. Gallium (III) oxide exists in five different forms: α, β, γ, δ, and ε, with β-gallium oxide (III) being the most stable and having a melting point of 1740°C.
Structure of Gallium Oxide
The most stable β-gallium (III) oxide form exhibits a distorted cubic close-packed structure, featuring both tetrahedral and octahedral distortions. The Ga-O bond distances measure 1.83 Å and 2.00 Å, contributing to its stability.
Other Information on Gallium Oxide
1. Synthesis of Gallium Oxide
Gallium (III) oxide can be synthesized through various methods, including precipitation from acidic or basic gallium salt solutions, heating gallium metal in air, or pyrolyzing gallium (III) nitrate at 200-250°C. β-Ga2O3 is specifically produced by heating certain gallium (III) compounds at 1,000°C.
2. Other Crystal Structures of Gallium Oxide
Transformations between gallium oxide polymorphs can be achieved under specific conditions, such as heating or hydrating, to obtain α, γ, δ, and ε forms, each with unique properties and synthesis methods.
3. Gallium Oxide Catalyst
β-Gallium (III) oxide plays a crucial role in catalyst production, notably in the synthesis of Ga2O3-Al2O3 catalysts, which are created by reacting gallium (III) nitrate with aluminum oxide and undergoing specific thermal treatments.
4. Nanostructure of Gallium Oxide
Gallium (III) oxide nanoribbons and nanosheets can be synthesized under high-temperature conditions, resulting in pure single-crystal structures. These nanostructures are characterized using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), revealing their unique physical forms and properties.