The electrical properties of SnO2 based ceramics are enhanced by the additi
on of different substituents into the SnO2 lattice. For the composition con
taining 2.5 mol% Sb2O3 the highest value of the electrical conductivity was
obtained. The mentioned composition has a SnO2 solid solution structure an
d presents semiconducting properties. In the present work, the influence of
Sb2O3, CuSb2O6, CuO + Sb2O3, In2O3, CeO2 used in the same concentration as
additives, on the structure and electrical properties of the SnO2 was stud
ied. The phase composition analyzed by XRD, pointed out the formation of th
e SnO2 solid solution. When using In2O3, a mixture of phases is formed. The
XRD results are confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The formation of rutile type
structure is evidenced by the decreasing, up to disappearance, of SnO2 ban
ds. The Seebeck coefficient values and the resistivity measurements results
showed a semiconductive behavior, with a n-type electrical conductivity fo
r all the samples. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.