Antimony-Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles with Controlled Doping Level via Nonaqueous Sol-Gel Procedure
Antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles with controlled doping level were prepared by a nonaqueous solution route, using alcohol as the solvent, citric acid as an agent, tin (IV) tetrachloride as tin source and antimony (III) chlorideas as antimony sources. As-synthesized samples were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron micrographs (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the content of citric acid was the most important processing parameter which was largely governing the reaction course and the complete incorporation of Sb. When the citric acid to metal mol ratio was 2, the particles were the highly crystallized ATO nanoparticles of about 20nm and the Sb atoms were indeed incorporated into the SnO2 crystal structure (cassiterite SnO2).