Mar 27 2013
The potential for nanoparticles in medical imaging, industrial applications, disease diagnoses, and several other fields are infinite, and researchers constantly exploring novel applications of nanoscale materials.
Indium is a Block P, Period 5 element. It is a very soft and malleable metal that is sourced as a byproduct during zinc production. The morphology of these particles is spherical, and they appear as a black powder.
Indium nanoparticles are graded as harmful when they come in contact with the eyes and skin, and if swallowed or inhaled.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of indium nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
In |
| CAS No. |
7440-74-6 |
| Group |
13 |
| Electronic configuration |
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1 |
Physical Properties
The physical properties of indium nanoparticles are given in the following table.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
22.42 g/cm3 |
0.0008 lb/in3 |
| Molar mass |
192.22 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of indium nanoparticles are provided in the table below.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting point |
156.6 °C |
313.9 °F |
| Boiling point |
2072 °C |
3762 °F |
Manufacturing Process
Indium nanoparticles can be prepared using a simple hot-injection method and also certain laser ablation techniques.
Applications
In general, indium has been used in many semiconducting materials that are used for electronics and other applications like solar cells. Based on this, researchers from the Lund University in Sweden created a novel type of solar cell from indium phosphide nanowires in January 2013. These nanowires match the electrical output of conventional thin-film solar cells and occupy only a fraction of the space.
Other potential applications of indium nanoparticles are in the following areas:
- As a superconducting material
- As solder in nanoscale electronics
Researchers are looking at ways to further exploit the nanoparticles’ potential electrical, magnetic, optical, biomedical, and bioscience properties.
Source: AZoNano