Influence of Sb doping on crystal structure and electrical property of SnO2 nanoparticles prepared by chemical coprecipitation

Sb doped SnO2 (ATO) nanoparticles with Sb doping concentrations ranging from 0% to 20% (Sb/Sb+Sn) have been prepared by chemical coprecipitation using metallic Sn and SbCl3 as raw materials. The influence of Sb doping concentration on crystal structure and electrical property was studied in detail. Results indicated that all ATO nanoparticles possessed the same tetragonal rutile structure as that of bulk SnO2. The average crystal size of the ATO nanoparticles decreased from 16 to 7 nm by increasing the Sb doping concentration. The unit-cell volume of ATO nanoparticles was either expanded or contracted, strongly depending on the Sb doping concentration. The electrical resistivity decreased sharply from 111 to minimum of 1.05 Ω cm when the Sb doping concentration was increased from 0% to 15% and then increased slightly to 1.42 Ω cm when the Sb doping concentration was increased from 15% to 20%. Finally, high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement was employed to investigate the valence state of Sb in samples with various Sb doping levels.