Synthesis of complex oxides CdO-ZnO-SnO2 for electrical contacts

A comparison of the results of synthesis of complex oxides system (2-x)ZnO-xCdO-SnO₂ was carried out from various precursors at the temperature modes characteristic of the traditional method of production of electrical contacts. Samples were synthesized from mechanical blends of powders ZnO, CdO, SnO₂, and by a method based on obtaining a mixture of precursors by co-precipitation of thermally unstable compounds. Solid phase synthesis in such mixtures proceeds much more effectively. After heat treatment at 1123 K for 2 hours a yield of a ternary oxide phase, in particular Zn_1.4Cd_0.6SnO₄, is up to 93% using the co-precipitation method, while the mechanical mixture does not allow producing these phases in significant quantities under the same conditions of the synthesis.