What is ATO?

Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO) Powder

Antimony tin oxide (ATO) is antimony-doped tin oxide, commonly represented as Sb-doped SnO₂. It is a transparent conductive oxide used in transparent conductive materials, antistatic coatings, near-infrared shielding films, solar-control coatings, and light-color ESD systems. The published qualification matrix lists ATO-T85, ATO-T90, ATO-T92, and ATO-T95 in micro and nano size families with nominal SnO₂ / antimony oxide-equivalent ratios; commercial role and current availability require confirmation.

Technical owner: Aurexene Materials Engineering Team · Last updated: 2026-09-04

Antimony Tin OxideTin-Antimony Oxideantimony-doped tin oxideSb-doped SnO₂ATO powdertransparent conductive oxide

What It Is Not

ATO is antimony-doped tin oxide, not elemental antimony, antimony trioxide, or undoped tin oxide. It is not antimony-free; use grade-specific SDS, dust-control, leaching, and regulatory documentation for the final use.
ATO provides static transparent heat-shielding, solar-control, or conductive-coating function; it is not a thermochromic or electrochromic active switching layer.

When Not to Use It

Do not use ATO when high-current bulk conductivity, very low resistance, or fully colorless optical performance is required beyond the practical oxide-coating window.

Intrinsic Screening Summary

Identity screen: Nominal grade composition, reported as SnO₂ wt% / Sb₂O₃-equivalent wt%: 85/15, 90/10, 92/8, or 95/5. Confirm the reporting basis on the selected grade COA.; Supplied microscopy shows aggregated, near-spherical primary-particle features in local fields of view; confirm grade morphology and dispersion state during qualification.
Intrinsic feature: Transparent-conductive oxide behavior with near-infrared attenuation.
Material-level integration: Deagglomerate ATO into the selected binder or dispersion medium before judging haze, conductivity, or IR response. Use for IR shielding coatings, static solar-control glazing, transparent conductive coatings, and ESD coatings where optical clarity or resistance uniformity matters.

Application Fit

Selection & Validation Framework

Decision Question	Material-Level Answer
Loading and rheology window	Tune ATO loading against viscosity, coating leveling, haze, color, and conductivity or IR attenuation targets. Use when higher loading is needed but processability and optical appearance must remain acceptable.
Coating integration	Use for transparent films, glazing stacks, conductive coating layers, and optical-control coatings.
Dispersion control	Required for: IR Shielding Coatings, Transparent Conductive Materials, and Laser Marking Pigments. Measure: visible transmission; haze; color coordinates; NIR transmission; surface resistance; volume resistance; resistance uniformity; particle distribution; settling; redispersion; adhesion; film continuity; aging durability. Sample state: final coating thickness. Failure signals: Use for IR shielding coatings, static solar-control glazing, transparent conductive coatings, and ESD coatings where optical clarity or resistance uniformity matters..
Loading and rheology window	Required for: IR Shielding Coatings, Transparent Conductive Materials, and Laser Marking Pigments. Measure: visible transmission; haze; color coordinates; NIR transmission; surface resistance; volume resistance; resistance uniformity; adhesion; film continuity; aging durability. Sample state: final coating thickness. Failure signals: Use when higher loading is needed but processability and optical appearance must remain acceptable..

Material Identity & Specification Status

Approved values for Packaging are not published; confirm them during quotation or sample review.

Property	Value
Composition	Nominal grade composition, reported as SnO₂ wt% / Sb₂O₃-equivalent wt%: 85/15, 90/10, 92/8, or 95/5. Confirm the reporting basis on the selected grade COA.
CAS / identity	128221-48-7
Particle size	Qualification required by grade: supplier-reported primary-particle size, local HRTEM/TEM observations, SEM agglomerate measurements, and batch laser-diffraction PSD are separate evidence classes and are not interchangeable.
Morphology	Supplied microscopy shows aggregated, near-spherical primary-particle features in local fields of view; confirm grade morphology and dispersion state during qualification.
Density	Grade-specific true density and test method are confirmed during quotation or sample qualification.
Purity	Grade-specific purity, analytical basis, and acceptance limit are confirmed during quotation or sample qualification.
Storage	Grade-specific storage and handling conditions are confirmed in the current approved documentation during qualification.

Why It Works

Structure	Function	Mechanism
Antimony-doped tin oxide with grade-specific nominal SnO₂ / Sb₂O₃-equivalent composition and locally observed aggregated, near-spherical primary-particle features.	Transparent-conductive oxide behavior with near-infrared attenuation.	Doping and charge-compensating defects can supply mobile carriers that alter the optical response; finished-film performance still depends on phase, particle state, dispersion, loading, and thickness.

Compare Material Routes

Material / Route	Decision Boundary
ITO	Screen ATO when a formulation-led coating route must balance final-film conductivity with transmission, haze, color, adhesion, and durability. Screen ITO when a powder, ceramic-target, slurry, or deposited-film route is explicitly required; compare matched finished films without transferring powder or target data.
Cs_0.33WO₃	Choose ATO when a transparent NIR-control coating must also meet a defined sheet-resistance, surface-resistivity, or antistatic requirement. Choose Cs_0.33WO₃ when transparent NIR absorption is the primary material role and final-film electrical conductivity is not required; validate visible transmission, haze, tint, dispersion, durability, and stack-level heat performance on a matched film.
TiON	Choose ATO for a transparent conductive oxide route where visible clarity, light appearance, and conductive or IR-control behavior must be balanced. Screen TiON as a distinct, darker absorber route, then compare color, loading, NIR response, and coating durability under matched conditions.

Method-specific material evidence

ATO Particle Characterization: Laser Diffraction, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and XRD

Aurexene Materials’ ATO has been characterized using complementary laser-diffraction particle sizing, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and XRD evidence. These methods describe different features: particle-size distribution, agglomerate morphology, local nanoscale crystallite structure and crystalline phase. They should not be treated as interchangeable or as proof of final coating performance.

Laser diffraction particle-size distribution

Submitted sample: ATO · Measurement date: 2025-10-14 · Instrument: OMEC Topsizer laser particle-size analyzer · Dispersion medium: water.

D10/D25/D50/D75/D90/D97: 3.413 / 6.486 / 11.774 / 19.457 / 28.715 / 38.834 µm. D(3,2)/D(4,3): 7.545 / 14.211 µm. Span: 2.149. Specific surface area: 795.201 m²/kg.

Analysis range: 0.02–2000 µm · Particle refractive index: 1.59 · Medium refractive index: 1.33.

These laser-diffraction results apply to the submitted ATO sample under the stated test conditions. They describe dispersed particle-size distribution for that measurement and do not represent every production batch, primary crystallite size, electrical conductivity, optical performance or finished-coating performance.

Third-party SEM characterization

Independent laboratory: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd. · Report: W25-1020-004 · Submitted by: Hunan Yuxinling New Materials Co., Ltd. / Aurexene Materials.

Submission / report date: 2025-10-20 / 2025-10-29 · Sample: ATO · Available magnifications: ×200, ×500, ×1,000, ×2,000, ×5,000 and ×10,000.

SEM examined fields show angular, aggregated secondary-particle morphology with rough surfaces and fine material. Local image measurements of about 17.6–54.4 µm occur in individual SEM fields only.

Third-party SEM characterization of an ATO sample submitted by Aurexene Materials showed angular, aggregated secondary particles across the examined fields. Local image measurements describe features within individual SEM fields and are not equivalent to a laser-diffraction particle-size distribution.

Affiliated-team TEM/HRTEM characterization

Independent laboratory: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd. · Report: W26-0421-009-001 · Report date: 2026-04-29.

Submitted by: Hunan Jingyi Aosi Technology Co., Ltd. · Samples: “英国 ATO” and “自产 ATO” as labeled by the submitter. TEM/HRTEM supports local observation of nanoscale crystallites within larger aggregates.

TEM/HRTEM characterization commissioned by an affiliated company showed nanoscale crystallites within larger ATO aggregates in the examined fields. The annotated 14.55 nm value is a local image observation, not a batch-average primary-particle specification.

Affiliated-team XRD characterization

Independent laboratory: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd. · Report: W26-0421-009 · Submission / report date: 2026-04-21 / 2026-04-23.

Submitted by: Hunan Jingyi Aosi Technology Co., Ltd. · Samples compared: “英国 ATO” and “自产 ATO” as labeled by the submitter. The report identifies cassiterite / SnO₂ crystalline phase against PDF 70-4177.

XRD analysis of submitted ATO samples identified the cassiterite SnO₂ crystalline phase against the PDF 70-4177 reference. This phase-identification result is not a chemical-purity claim, antimony-doping measurement, conductivity result or final-application performance claim.

Affiliated-company disclosure: Some characterization work was commissioned by Hunan Jingyi Aosi Technology Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of Aurexene Materials. The results apply only to the submitted samples and are presented as affiliated-team technical background. They do not establish Aurexene ownership of the testing laboratory, samples, manufacturing process, patent rights or resulting performance claims.

See the related ATO characterization framework for method limits and finished-coating qualification planning.

Material Evidence

Laser diffraction particle-size distribution of submitted ATO sample, D10 3.413 µm, D50 11.774 µm and D90 28.715 µm. — **Laser diffraction particle-size distribution** Submitted ATO sample, measured 2025-10-14 by OMEC Topsizer laser particle-size analyzer in water. The complete distribution curve, axes, units, and reported D-values are retained. Source: ATO particle-size test report, page 1

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample showing aggregated secondary-particle morphology at ×200 magnification with a 100 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM overview ×200** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×200. The field shows angular aggregated secondary-particle morphology; it is not a particle-size distribution. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 2

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample at ×500 magnification with a 10 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM ×500** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×500. Local fields show angular aggregated secondary particles with rough surfaces and fine material. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 3

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample at ×1,000 magnification with local annotated measurements and a 10 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM ×1,000** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×1,000. Annotations are local image measurements, not batch particle-size statistics. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 4

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample at ×2,000 magnification with a 10 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM ×2,000** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×2,000. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 5

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample at ×5,000 magnification with a 10 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM ×5,000** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×5,000. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 6

Third-party SEM image of submitted ATO sample at ×10,000 magnification with a 10 µm scale bar. — **Third-party SEM ×10,000** Third-party SEM, report W25-1020-004, submitted ATO sample, ×10,000. This higher-magnification field supports local morphology observation only. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W25-1020-004, page 7

TEM and HRTEM image of affiliated-team submitted ATO sample showing local nanoscale crystallites within an aggregate, with a 14.55 nm annotation and 10 nm scale bar. — **Affiliated-team HRTEM local observation** Affiliated-team technical background, report W26-0421-009-001, self-produced ATO sample as labeled by the submitter, page 26. The 14.55 nm annotation is a local image observation, not a batch-average primary-particle specification. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W26-0421-009-001, page 26

XRD pattern identifying cassiterite SnO₂ phase in an affiliated-team submitted ATO sample, with the trace, axes, and Cassiterite phase label visible. — **Affiliated-team XRD pattern** Affiliated-team technical background, report W26-0421-009, self-produced ATO sample as labeled by the submitter, page 19. Cassiterite 100.00% is a phase-identification output, not a chemical-purity claim. Source: Changsha Mining and Metallurgy Institute Testing Technology Co., Ltd., report W26-0421-009, page 19

Technical Guides

Technical Guide	Summary
Absorption vs Reflection in Solar-Control Coatings and Why the Difference Affects Heat Build-Up	Solar-control attenuation can come from absorption, reflection, or scattering.
Static Optical Control vs Stimulus-Responsive Switching: Defining the Correct Material Route	Choose passive optical control when one stable spectrum is sufficient; choose stimulus-responsive switching only when the system needs a reversible change between defined states and can tolerate trigger, hysteresis, cycle, control, and integration requirements.
How ATO Particle Size, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and XRD Describe Different Material Features	Use laser diffraction, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and XRD as complementary, method-specific evidence when selecting and qualifying antimony tin oxide (ATO); none alone proves final coating performance.

FAQ

Is ATO antimony-free?

No. Use ATO only when antimony-containing materials are acceptable for the final application.

How does ATO compare with ITO?

Screen ATO for a formulation-led coating route and ITO for an explicitly defined powder, ceramic-target, slurry, or deposited-film route. Compare optical, electrical, process, and durability results on matched finished films.

How does ATO compare with Cs₀.₃₃WO₃?

Choose ATO when the coating needs both near-infrared control and an electrical or antistatic function. Choose Cs₀.₃₃WO₃ when transparent near-infrared absorption is the primary role and electrical conductivity is not required. Compare delivered system cost only after matched-film validation.

Why is ATO used in IR shielding coatings?

ATO can add near-IR attenuation while keeping a transparent conductive oxide route. The useful window depends on dispersion, loading, coating thickness, visible transmission, haze, and color.

Can ATO replace ITO?

ATO can replace ITO only when the selected ATO coating meets the same finished-film electrical, optical, process, adhesion, and durability requirements. Keep ITO powder, ceramic-target, slurry, and deposited-film evidence separate in the comparison.

Commercial Availability

Supplier role: Request confirmation

Supply status: Request confirmation

Sample status: Sample availability requires confirmation

Commercial details are not published until the source and verification fields are complete and the Supplier Data Packet is signed by the sales owner, technical reviewer, and resource/compliance owner. Request current grade, form, sample, packaging, and delivery confirmation.

Documents & Inquiry

Document access follows the current approval state. Unapproved or unavailable files route to a document request instead of a public download.

Technical Data Sheet

Approved public file

View TDS

Safety Data Sheet

Approval required

Request SDS

Related resources

ATO Technical Data Sheet

Grade, Sample & Qualification Support

Aurexene Materials supports requirements review for the documented ATO-T85, ATO-T90, ATO-T92, and ATO-T95 micro and nano grade families. Commercial role and current availability require confirmation. For grade review, provide the application, host system, process, performance target, sample quantity, estimated volume, timeline, and document requirements.

ATO RFQ qualification checklist

Application and host system: Intended coating, film, polymer, ink, or other matrix.
Grade and size family: Preferred ATO-T85, ATO-T90, ATO-T92, or ATO-T95 micro/nano route, or ask Aurexene Materials to recommend one.
Target and test method: Required conductivity, resistance, NIR response, transmission, haze, tint, or other acceptance target with its method and conditions.
Process conditions: Dispersion route, loading window, substrate, film thickness, cure or drying conditions, and relevant constraints.
Sample and scale: Sample quantity, estimated pilot or annual volume, and required timing.
Qualification evidence: TDS, SDS, COA, regulatory documentation, and any lot-specific acceptance data required.

This inquiry and qualification path does not guarantee performance or availability:

Requirements review
Grade and size-family recommendation
Sample/document package
Customer formulation validation
Scale-up quotation

Exact properties, methods, availability, and acceptance limits must be confirmed for the selected grade and lot. Application-performance guidance remains on the linked Application, Technical Insight, and Comparison pages.

Review Lab Capabilities for sample evaluation and qualification support, or Production Capabilities for scale-up, quality, documentation, and supply support.

Get ATO Grade Recommendation & Quote