Preparation of nanocrystalline antimony oxide powders by use of γ-ray radiation — oxidization route

γ-ray radiation-oxidization route has been used to prepare nanocrystalline metal oxide Sb2O3 powders from aqueous solutions at room temperature and ambient pressure. Experimental results reveal that Sb3+ concentration, radiation dose, kind and concentration of surfactant and concentration of OH radicals scavenger affect the particle size and yield. Transmission electron micrograph and X-ray powder diffraction show the average particle sizes of antimony oxide Sb2O3 powders for all the samples are in the range 8–48 nm, in which the particle size distribution of the sample with the smallest average particle size is from 5 to 25 nm. The highest yield is above 70%.