Sintering of additive free hydrothermally derived indium tin oxide powdersin air

High-density and chemically homogeneous Sn-doped (0-10 mole%) indium oxide (ITO) ceramics have been successfully prepared using a highly sinterable hy drothermally derived In-Sn oxyhydroxide fine powder as the starting materia l. Low-temperature calcination at 500 degreesC of the hydrothermally prepar ed phase led to formation of a substitutional vacancy type solid solution o f In2Sn1-xO5-y. The sintering behavior of the calcined powder compacts was studied at temperatures from 1200 to 1500 degreesC for 3 h in air. C-type r are-earth oxide structured ITO ceramics were obtained with fine microstruct ures and fewer pores. Neither the O-2 sintering atmosphere nor sintering ai ds were used to promote the densification of ITO ceramics. It was found tha t the addition of Sn to In2O3 propelled the densification. (C) 2000 Academi c Press.