Synthesis of luminescing (In,Ga)N nanoparticles from an inorganic ammonium fluoride precursor

A mixture of cubic and hexagonal indium gallium nitride nanoparticles was prepared by ammonolysis of the precursor ammonium hexafluoroindate-gallate [(NH4)3In1−xGaxF6]. The particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The ratio of the two obtained phases, as well as their composition, was determined using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. All methods gave consistent results of ∼10% hexagonal material and ∼90% cubic material. The mixture of cubic and hexagonal indium gallium nitride exhibited photoluminescence in the visible region around 735 nm when excited by a 325 nm HeCd laser at room temperature.