Mössbauer, electron-micrography, and electron-diffraction studies were conducted on amorphous-tin-oxide samples prepared by reacting gaseous atomic tin with molecular oxygen and collecting the oxide on a 77-K substrate. The observed isomer shift, quadrupole splitting, and characteristic lattice temperatures deviate significantly from the values for crystalline Sn${\mathrm{O}}_2$ and SnO. A qualitative description of the oxidation reaction mechanism and a proposed structure of the amorphous material are given.

• Received 14 September 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.19.1369