SnO2 and CeO2-doped SnO2 materials obtained by sol–gel alkoxide route

Tin dioxide-based materials have interesting electrical and optical properties being used as gas sensor, catalysts and inorganic ion-exchanger. In this paper a study on the preparation of the SnO2 and CeO2-doped SnO2 powders and films by a sol–gel method, starting from the corresponding metal alkoxides, has been performed. The stabilized tin and tin with cerium organic sols were used for deposition of the thin films on glass and silicon single crystal. Powders were obtained after thermal treatment of the gels formed by the gelation of the solutions in air, at room temperature. The films have been deposited by dip coating on glass and silicon wafers and were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy and the powders by DTA/TG analysis, X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and specific surface area analysis.