Synthesis And Properties Of ATO Nanopowder And Organic/Inorganic Composites

Inorganic-organic. nanocomposite materials, combining the properties of inorganic compounds, organic compounds and nano-materials, exhibit properties superior to those of their separate components. Researches, developments and applications of inorganic nanomaterials and related inorganic/organic nanocomposites intrigued the scientists, and it has become the focus in this field of material science. Nano antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) is a nano-metal oxide, it not only has some similar properties of metals, but also has specific optical and electrical properties, which is mainly used for gas ceramic materials, infrared absorbing materials, antistatic materials and conductive materials.ATO nanosphere was synthesized by the solvothermal route, starting with SnCl4·5H2O and SbCl3 for the first time. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible transmission spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) and low-impedance surface impedance instrument. The results indicated that the ATO was tetragonal structure SnO2 and 80～120 nm monodispersed ATO nanospheres were composed of numerous 5～10 nm ATO aggregates nanocrystallines. The Sb3+ doping content had a significant impact on optical property and electrical conductivity. The preferable Sb/Sn atomic ratio was 9%.A new conducting nanocomposite consisting of antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) and polyaniline (PANI) synthesized by in-situ polymerization. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, TEM, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), low-impedance surface impedance instrument. The PANI strongly adsorbed on ATO beacause of hydrogen bonding between ATO and NH group of PANI on the surface of the ATO, not a simple mixture of PANI and ATO. It was found that the thermal stability of PANI/ATO nanocomposites was greatly enhanced with the increase of ATO doping content. The conductivity of the PANI/ATO nanocomposites increased significantly when a optimal quantity (18 wt%) of ATO was added, which the conductivity was 0.35±0.006 S/cm and raised one order of magnitude than pure PANI and two orders of magnitude of ATO. A flexible conductive paper/cloth was prepared by solvent thermal method starting with template coated by a layer of ATO conductive layer for the first time. The composites were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, impedance surface impedance instrument. The results shown that the surface of paper/cloth fiber was coated by ATO nanoparticles uniformly. The best conductivity of the ATO conductive paper was prepared at 10 h reaction time. When the reaction temperature was 140℃and reaction time was 20 h, the conductivity of ATO conductive colth had the optimal mechanical and conducting properties. Such a novel, curled, economic ATO conductive paper/cloth have many potential applications, such as sensors, electronic devices and fuel/light-sensitive solar energy applications.