The effect of Al or Nb doping upon the thermoluminescence of the polycrystalline tetravalent oxide was studied. Non-stoichiometry of the oxide was characterized by the presence of O vacancies. These vacancies, when once or twice ionized, behaved as donor centres. The introduction of trivalent or pentavalent impurities into the matrix was an efficient method for controlling the native defects in the oxide. Deconvolution of thermoluminescence curves was used to identify the trap parameters of the defects. A quasi-chemical model was developed which permitted the prediction of the behaviour of point defects as a function of the dopant concentration.

Physical and Quasi-Chemical Study of Point Defects in Aluminium or Niobium-Doped Polycrystalline Tin Dioxide. L.Poupon, P.Iacconi, C.Pijolat: Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 1999, 19[6-7], 747-51