ROLE OF SnO2 NANOPARTICLE ADDITIONS AND ANNEALING TREATMENT ON THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF TiO2 THIN FILM

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of varying SnO₂ percentages on the structural properties of TiO₂ thin films. The bare and doped samples were prepared using the spray pyrolysis technique (SPT) by deploying TiO₂ as a precursor. The crystal structural parameters were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and it was found that the bare sample exhibited a permanent anatase phase of TiO₂. However, this phase transformed into the rutile phase upon doping with 9% SnO₂. Furthermore, the rutile phase intensity decreased when the prepared thin film was annealed at 250°C for 90 minutes. UV-vis spectroscopy was used to investigate the effect of SnO₂ doping on the optical properties of TiO₂. The results revealed that doping with SnO₂ significantly decreased the transmittance of the TiO₂ thin film. On the other hand, the absorbance value of the TiO₂ thin film increased to the highest value with the doping of 9 at.% of SnO₂. In conclusion, the results of structural changes and optical properties depicted the effectiveness of SnO₂.