Optical and electrophysical properties of La–SnO$_2$ films

In this work, the optical and electrophysical properties of tin dioxide thin films containing 1–5% La$^{3+}$, obtained by oxidative pyrolysis, were studied using atomic force and Kelvin probe force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectrophotometry. The films are optically transparent, homogeneous, and formed by crystallites 21–24 nm in size. The SnO$_2$ film with 3% La$^{3+}$ has the highest values of activation energy, roughness, and surface potential.