The paper reports on the deposition of thin antimony (Sb)-doped SnO2 films onto gold and silver substrates using magnetron sputtering. The influence of the SnO2:Sb film on the electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance properties is investigated. The best results in terms of stability, electrochemical and plasmonic characteristics are obtained for SnO2:Sb of 8.5 nm thickness deposited on silver substrates. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.