Controlling the surface chemistry of oxide systems has emerged an effective tool to obtain desirable nanostructures and macro properties. A relatively simple way to achieve this is by using dopants that are prone to segregate to the surfaces of the powders. In this work, we delineate the effect of Mg and Fe on SnO2 nanopowders focusing on the surface modifications caused by surface segregation. The effects of increasing the temperature of calcinations are particularly addressed to evaluate the surface modifications at high temperatures. The powders were studied by infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements, X-ray diffraction, and specific surface area measurements. Since sintering is a high-temperature process strongly dependent on surface characteristics, we drawn a relationship between the final densities after sintering and the surface chemistry of the doped powders. Doped SnO, pellets were sintered to over 95% of the theoretical density within a few seconds (fast firing) when significant surface modifications were observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.