A simple and novel technique for the deposition of conducting tin dioxide films

Transparent conducting films of both undoped and antimony-doped tin dioxide have been prepared by a novel technique. In this method, the substrate with a band of SnCl2 paste painted near its lower edge is heated in a vertical configuration. The SnCl2 undergoes oxidation to yield SnCl4 (vapour) as one of the reaction products, which rises upward and is hydrolysed on the heated substrate surface to produce the oxide. The films are smooth and strongly adherent over a region approximately=5 cm in length. The best films obtained have a sheet resistance in the region of 100 Omega Square Operator -1 and 70% average optical transmission.