Microstructural development in pure and V-doped SnO2 nanopowders

The effect of V on the microstructural properties of SnO2 nanopowders is st udied by performing X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning elec tron microanalysis. The peak broadening in the diffraction data is interpre ted in terms of crystallite size and microstrain effects and related to the presence of V ions within the lattice. After calcination at high temperatu res, the decrease of microstrains and the increase in the average crystalli te size is ascribed to V segregation as oxide. Though the amount of segrega ted V oxide is not detectable by Xray diffraction, V2O5 is clearly detected by Raman measurements. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.