Orbital anisotropy in SnO2 thin films and its modification by swift heavy ion irradiation

► Investigation of orbital anisotropy in the orthorhombic phase of SnO2 thin films. ► Modification of the electronic structure by swift heavy ion irradiation. ► Orbital reconstruction in the SnO2 lattice is proved by X-ray absorption experiments. ► SnO6 octahedral distortion due to controlled structural disorder induced by irradiation. ► A direct linkage between distortion of the SnO6 octahedra and the orbital anisotropy.