Nanocrystal formation of SnO 2 in xSnO 2-(100 - x)MgO (x in mol.%) nanocrystalline composite thin films is reported. SnO 2 and MgO exhibit strong immiscibility behavior below 750 °C, leading to controllable particle size of SnO 2 in the MgO matrix by changing their composition. The particle size of SnO 2 can also be controlled by increasing the annealing temperature. Above 750 °C MgO and SnO 2 react to yield a MgO-Mg 2SnO 4-SnO 2 composite in which the size of the SnO 2 nanophase increases with increasing temperature. By controlled choice of the composition and annealing conditions the band gap of SnO 2 can be continuously increased from 3.89 to 4.5 eV. We discuss this behavior in terms of the quantum confinement effect. The method provides a generic approach to tuning the band gap in nanocomposite systems over a wide energy range. © 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ambesh Dixit

Department of Physics

IIT Jodhpur

M.B. Sahana

C. Sudakar

J.S. Thakur

R. Naik

V.M. Naik

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Acta Materialia

Quantum confinement effects and band gap engineering of SnO 2 nanocrystals in a MgO matrix

Journal	Acta Materialia
ISSN	13596454