Antimonydoped

Antimonydoped refers to a material into which antimony has been introduced as a dopant. The doping is typically performed in small concentrations to tailor electronic, optical, or catalytic properties without drastically altering the lattice. In semiconductors, antimony can act as a donor. Substitution of Sb for a host cation can donate extra electrons, increasing n-type conductivity. In oxide matrices such as tin oxide (SnO2), antimony is commonly incorporated as Sb5+ substituting Sn4+, which raises free-electron concentration and improves electrical conductivity while retaining substantial optical transparency in the visible range.

Common Sb-doped materials include antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) and antimony-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Sb); such materials are used as transparent conducting oxides, gas sensors, and catalysts. Sb-doped oxides enable tuning of work function, carrier density, and optical properties for applications in displays, solar cells, and smart windows.

Synthesis approaches vary by host, including diffusion or ion implantation for bulk samples, and physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, sol-gel, or hydrothermal routes for thin films and nanoparticles. Thermal stability and diffusion of Sb can be concerns at elevated temperatures, and impurities or compensating defects may affect carrier concentration.

Safety: antimony compounds are toxic; handling requires appropriate safety measures.