Synthesis of nanocrystalline solid solutions AlySn1-yO2-y/2 (y=0.57, 0.4) investigated by XRD, 27Al/119Sn MAS NMR, and Mossbauer spectroscopy

Nanocrystalline AlySn1-yO2-y/2 (y = 0.57, 0.4) was prepared by a co-precipitation method and subsequent calcination at temperatures of up to 650 degrees C. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction reveal crystallite sizes of about 2 nm and a crystal structure equivalent to that of pure SnO2 cassiterite. The local structure was investigated by Al-27 and Sn-119 NMR as well as by Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy. The results show the formation of a solid solution with a random distribution of Al and Sn on the cation sites and a random distribution of oxygen vacancies on the anion sites.