Electrical properties of tin oxide materials

The understanding of electrical properties in engineered materials plays an essential role, whether for basic science or technological applications. The unique electrical/electronic features exhibited by semiconducting metal oxides (SMOx) make them fundamental building blocks for the design of smart and functional electronic and optoelectronic devices in both micro- and nanoscale. Tin oxide based-materials are outstanding representatives of SMOx that have received plenty of attention for decades due to their particular chemical and physical properties, especially SnO2, which is the most chemically and thermally stable oxidation state of tin oxide used in several areas. The growing interest for new stoichiometries of tin oxide, such as SnO and Sn3O4, has also arisen in recent years, but their electrical properties have not been detailed studied. This chapter is addressed to discuss the electrical performance of tin oxide-based materials and the importance of obtaining structures with well-defined electrical characteristics to be used in practical applications.