Structural and photoluminescence characterization of SnO2: F thin films deposited by advanced spray pyrolysis technique at low substrate temperature

► Photoluminescent FTO thin films were deposited at low substrate temperatures. ► Influence of substrate temperature on the PL characteristics was studied. ► The samples are polycrystalline with a cassiterite tetragonal crystal structure. ► The room temperature UV/violet PL emission was dominated by the oxygen vacancies. ► PL efficiency is optimum at 613 K substrate temperature.