A simple method to synthesize gallium oxide nanosheets and nanobelts

β-Ga2O3 nanosheets and nanobelts have been synthesized by evaporating metallic gallium source in a flow of argon gas. X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that the as-synthesized products are pure, single-crystalline β-Ga2O3 with monoclinic structure. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated the products are free from any other elements in addition to gallium and oxygen. The nanosheets of Ga2O3 had rectangular geometric shape. The nanobelts had uniform width along its entire long axis, and were in the range of 100–400 nm widths and several tens of micrometer in lengths. The growth process of β-Ga2O3 nanosheets and nanobelts may be dominated by vapor–solid mechanism as well as kinetics.