Crystallization, Phase Stability, Microstructure, and Chemical Bonding in Ga2O3 Nanofibers Made by Electrospinning

We report on the crystal structure, phase stability, surface morphology, microstructure, chemical bonding, and electronic properties of gallium oxide (Ga2O3) nanofibers made by a simple and economically viable electrospinning process. The effect of processing parameters on the properties of Ga2O3 nanofibers were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Thermal treatments in the range of 700-900 °C induce crystallization of amorphous fibers and lead to phase stabilization of α-GaOOH, β-Ga2O3, or mixtures of these phases. The electron diffraction analyses coupled with XPS indicate that the transformation sequence progresses by forming amorphous fibers, which then transform to crystalline fibers with a mixture of α-GaOOH and β-Ga2O3 at intermediate temperatures and fully transforms to the β-Ga2O3 phase at higher temperatures (800-900 °C). Raman spectroscopic analyses corroborate the structural evolution and confirm the high chemical quality of the β-Ga2O3 nanofibers. The surface analysis by XPS studies indicates that the hydroxyl groups are present for the as-synthesized samples, while thermal treatment at higher temperatures fully removes those hydroxyl groups, resulting in the formation of β-Ga2O3 nanofibers.