Preparation of highly dispersed antimony-doped tin oxide nanopowders by azeotropic drying with isoamyl acetate

Antimony-doped tin hydroxide colloid precipitates were prepared by hydrolysis of SnCl4·5H2O and SbCl3 ethanol solutions. Isoamyl acetate was selected as azeotropic drying solvent and was compared with the most commonly used n-butanol solvent on treating precipitate for low hard agglomeration precursor powders. The FT-IR, BET, XRD. and TEM results of the precursor powders and calcinated antimony-doped tin oxide powders were recorded. The results demonstrate that isoamyl acetate is an excellent azeotropic drying solvent that can effectively prevent the agglomeration of particles and greatly improve the fluffiness of the obtained dried powders. After these precursor powders are calcined, antimony-doped tin oxide nanopowders with tetragonal rurile structure and high dispersivity can be obtained.