Preparation and electrical properties of wollastonite coated with antimony-doped tin oxide nanoparticles

Composite antistatic powders of wollastonite coated with antimony-doped tin oxide nanoparticles (Sb-SnO2/wollastonite, SSW) were prepared by heterogeneous nucleation method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Effects of pH value, hydrolysis temperature, coating amount, SbCl3 to SnCl4·5H2O molar ratio, calcination temperature and time on the resistivity of SSW powders were studied. It was shown that after coated with Sb-SnO2 particles, the whiteness of wollastonite has been decreased from 91.7 to 90.5, the specific surface area has been increased from 1.41 to 3.65m2/g, the volume resistivity has been reduced from 3.36 × 1010 Ω·cm to 0.85 × 105 Ω·cm. The fibriform wollastonite particles were coated with a layer of 30-50 nm thickness of well crystallized and uniform antimony-doped tin oxide (Sb-SnO2). A possible mechanism for coating of Sb-SnO2 nanoparticles on the surface of wollastonite fiber was proposed. [Display omitted] •Sb-SnO2/wollastonite powders were prepared by heterogeneous nucleation method.•The whiteness of the composite antistatic powders is 90.5.•The volume resistivity has been reduced from 3.36 × 1010 Ω·cm to 0.85 × 105 Ω·cm.•A possible mechanism for synthesis of Sb-SnO2/wollastonite powders was proposed.•The composite antistatic powders can be used in light color materials.