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Thin Films Made from Colloidal Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticles for Transparent Conductive Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2013

Abigail Halim
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0245, U.S.A.
Rosario A. Gerhardt
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0245, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Commercially available antimony tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles were dispersed in water using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as a dispersing agent and deposited onto glass substrates by spin coating. Films of one to five layers were made. These thin films were characterized using impedance spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy to obtain their sheet resistances and optical transmittance, respectively. The films displayed sheet resistances around 105-106 kΩ/☐ and optical transmittance in the near infrared to near ultraviolet range above 95%. Films were then made using a higher concentration ATO solution and found to achieve sheet resistances on the order of 102 kΩ/☐ but had decreased transmittance as low as 65% at some wavelengths. Impedance measurements, along with optical micrographs, were taken at different locations on the films. These experiments demonstrated that films of more than one layer showed greater uniformity. Additional sets of films were also produced with varying substrate preparation and dispersion deposition parameters. Aside from dispersion concentration, high humidity during film measurement was found to be the most crucial parameter for achieving low sheet resistances.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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References

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