Effect of Sn precursor on the synthesis of SnO2 and Sb-doped SnO2 particles via polymeric precursor method

SnO2 and Sb-doped SnO2 particles were synthesized using the polymeric precursor method with different Sn salt precursors: SnCl2 center dot 2H(2)O, SnCl4 center dot 5H(2)O, or Sn citrate. Sb2O3 was used as the precursor of Sb, and the molar ratio of n(Sn):n(Sb) was held constant. FTIR and TGA/DTA were used to examine the influence of the Sn precursor on the formation and thermal decomposition of the Sn and Sn-Sb complexes. The calcination products obtained from heating the Sn and Sn-Sb complexes at 500 degrees C in air were analyzed using XRD and TEM analysis. The results revealed that the SnO2 and Sb-doped SnO2 formation temperatures depended on the nature of the Sn precursor. The calcination products were found to be SnO2 and Sb-doped SnO2 particles, which crystallized in a tetragonal cassiterite structure with a highly preferred (110) planar orientation. The Sn precursor and the presence of Sb in the SnO2 matrix strongly influenced the crystallinity and lattice parameters.