Study of the defects in sintered SnO_2 by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence

Abstract

The defect structure of sintered SnO_2 was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), cathodoluminescence (CL), and electrical measurements. HRTEM shows the presence of the SnO phase in the sintered samples as well as twinning, stacking faults, and disordered intergrowths. The sintered samples annealed under an oxygen atmosphere show changes in the defect structure and in the CL spectra. In particular, the intensity of a CL band at 1.94 eV, related to oxygen vacancies, decreased as the electrical resistivity increased. The results are discussed by considering the presence of stoichiometric defects such as oxygen vacancies and Sn interstitials in the final structure and their evolution during the annealing process under an oxygen atmosphere.