Optoelectronic and mechanical properties of Sol-Gel derived Multi-Layer ITO thin films improved by elemental doping, Carbon Nanotubes and Nanoparticles

摘要: Transparent conductors (TCs) are an essential ingredient in numerous new applications which emerging the 21st century including high efficiency solar cells, rigid and tactile displays, light emitting diodes, photonics for communications computing, energy efficient smart windows gas sensors, since they allow transmission while electric signals applied or collected. So far, indium tin oxide (ITO) reflects best trade-off between low electrical resistivity optical transparency, making it first candidate as transparent conductor most optoelectronics technologies despite its drawbacks such expensiveness poor mechanical characteristics. However, due to intricacy of ITO, coating characteristics strongly depend on deposition conditions. Despite many developments ITO-based conductive coatings; these yet be commercialized optoelectronic applications. Many challenges still exist terms fabrication quality coatings, order meet criteria better, cost-effectiveness environmentally-friendly characteristics, especially context electrodes. In this study, conditions along with incorporating thin ITO films transition metals (Ti Ag), carbon nanotubes (e.g., SWCNTs) nanoparticles (Ag Au nanoparticles) were optimized synthesize based TCs via a facile, environmentally friendly cost-effective sol-gel spin-coating method. fabricated different Ti Ag doping concentration, annealing temperature geometry single layer, bi-layer multi-layer. The structural, surface morphology composition, electrical, properties characterized using wide range complementary techniques, namely, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), dispersive (EDX), atomic force (AFM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), four point probes Hall Effect, UV-Vis, nanoindentation FEM modeling. All showed nano-sized grain-like forming homogenous structure. XRD results demonstrated relatively good crystallinity film coatings after applying suitable heat treatment. XPS EDX analysis corroborated existence main elements each case coating. In pure (Ti- Ag-) doped thickness 350 ±5 nm 500 C temperature, highest transparency was determined 92% 4 at.% Ti-doped 2 Ag-doped films, lowest 1.6×10-4 Ωcm achieved prepared content. exhibit namely hardness Young’s modulus (5.3 – 6.8) GPa (128 148) GPa, respectively. enhance their maintaining properties, SWCNTs incorporated thicknesses (i.e. 150, 210, 250 320) ± 5 nm, characterizations carried out respect thickness. SWCNTs/ITO (22 28) (254 306) 4.6×10-4 (Ω cm) thicker film, transmittance 91.5 % obtained from thinner film. Obtained show significant improvement SWCNT/ITO compared counterparts distinctively properties. To minimize consumption indium, combined (very metal-, metal nanoparticles- oxide-) layers bi-layered tri-layered geometries (AuI), ((Au)nI), ((Ag)nI) ((AgO)I), (IAuI), (I(Au)nI), (I(Ag)nI) (I(AgO)I), respectively, (~ 130 nm). For systems, 1.2×10-4 ITO/Au/ITO ~ 91.5% ITO/AgO/ITO Two configurations ITO\AgO\ITO AgO\ITO tri-layer respectively performance nominated electrodes designing inverted organic films. Power conversion efficiencies 4.9%, 4.2% 3.8% found ITO/AgO/ITO, AgO/ITO conclude, derived present crystal structure, well reasonably comparable those other sophisticated techniques sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, beam evaporation etc. All attributes render promising industrial technological