EXPERIMENTAL SURVEY OF DIFFERENT PRECURSOR SOLVENT PAIRS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF TIN DIOXIDE BY PYROSOL/

In order to prepare tin dioxide (SnO2) based films by the pyrosol tech nique, different mixtures of tin precursors (chlorinated and nonchlori nated salts) and solvents (methanol, butanol and acetylcetone) have be en tested. Depending on the surface aspect, the obtained deposits have been classified into three categories; there are smooth, slightly fac eted and faceted surfaces. Smooth surfaces are obtained when the solve nt has a high nebulization rate or when the salt has a high molecular weight. The development of facets occurs when the salt is light or whe n gaseous HCl is present in the pyrolysis region. The optical and elec trical characteristics of the corresponding films are also discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.