Effect of Impurity Cations on the Growth and Habits of SnO2 Crystals in the SnO2-Cu2O Flux System

The effects of a small amount of cations with valence states ranging from mono- to hexavalent on the growth and habits of SnO2 crystals growing in the SnO2-Cu2O flux system were systematically investigated. Trivalent cations having ionic radii closer to that of Sn4+ had a conspicuous effect upon the size and habits of SnO2. Pentavalent cations with ionic radii similar to those of Sn4+ had some effect, whereas cations of other valence states showed no effect at all.