The influence of substrate temperature on the properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering

Transparent, conducting, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were deposited on Corning 1737 glass by a DC magnetron sputter. The structural, electrical, and optical properties of the films, deposited using various substrate temperatures, were investigated. The AZO thin films were fabricated with an AZO ceramic target (Al₂O₃:2 wt%). The obtained films were polycrystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite structure and preferentially oriented in the (002) crystallographic direction. The lowest resistivity was 6.0 × 10⁻⁴Ω cm, with a carrier concentration of 2.7 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ and a Hall mobility of 20.4 cm²/Vs. The average transmittance in the visible range was above 90%.     

Role of substrate temperature on the growth mechanism and physical properties of spray deposited lead oxide thin films

Thin films of lead oxide were synthesized by cost effective spray pyrolysis technique at different substrate temperatures on glass substrates. Effect of substrate temperature on the growth mechanism and physical properties of the films was investigated. All the films were polycrystalline in nature with tetragonal structure corresponding to α-PbO. The films coated at 225 °C and 275 °C were (1 0 1) oriented, while the films deposited at 325 °C and 375 °C were (0 0 2) oriented. Above 375 °C, the pure tetragonal nature deteriorated and the peaks corresponding to orthorhombic phase were observed. The band gap value was found to be in the range of 2.3 to 2.62 eV. All the films had a resistivity of the order of 10³ ohm-cm. A minimum resistivity of 0.0191 × 10³ ohm-cm was obtained for the film coated at 325 °C. The activation energy increased with increase in substrate temperature.     

Low-temperature deposited Titanium-doped zinc oxide thin films on the flexible PET substrate by DC magnetron sputtering

Transparent conducting Titanium-doped zinc oxide thin films (TZO) with high transparency and relatively low resistivity were firstly deposited on water-cooled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates at room temperature by DC magnetron sputtering. The microstructure, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were investigated and discussed. The XRD patterns show that all the deposited films are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure and have a preferred orientation along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The electrical resistivity decreases when the sputtering power increases from 45 W to 60 W. However, as the puttering power continue increases from 60 W to 90 W, the electrical resistivity increases rapidly. When the puttering power is 60 W, the films deposited on PET substrate have the lowest resistivity of 4.72 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm and a relatively high transmittance of above 92% in the visible range.     

Low-temperature deposited Titanium-doped zinc oxide thin films on the flexible PET substrate by DC magnetron sputtering

Transparent conducting Titanium-doped zinc oxide thin films (TZO) with high transparency and relatively low resistivity were firstly deposited on water-cooled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates at room temperature by DC magnetron sputtering. The microstructure, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were investigated and discussed. The XRD patterns show that all the deposited films are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure and have a preferred orientation along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The electrical resistivity decreases when the sputtering power increases from 45 W to 60 W. However, as the puttering power continue increases from 60 W to 90 W, the electrical resistivity increases rapidly. When the puttering power is 60 W, the films deposited on PET substrate have the lowest resistivity of 4.72 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm and a relatively high transmittance of above 92% in the visible range.     

Effect of cadmium oxide incorporation on the microstructural and optical properties of pulsed laser deposited nanostructured zinc oxide thin films

CdO doped (doping concentration 0, 1, 3 and 16 wt%) ZnO nanostructured thin films are grown on quartz substrate by pulsed laser deposition and the films are annealed at temperature 500 °C. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the annealed films are systematically studied using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Micro-Raman spectra, UV–vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra and open aperture z-scan. 1 wt% CdO doped ZnO films are annealed at different temperatures viz., 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 °C and the structural and optical properties of these films are also investigated. The XRD patterns suggest a hexagonal wurtzite structure for the films. The crystallite size, lattice constants, stress and lattice strain in the films are calculated. The presence of high-frequency E₂ mode and the longitudinal optical A₁ (LO) modes in the Raman spectra confirms the hexagonal wurtzite structure for the films. The presence of CdO in the doped films is confirmed from the EDX spectrum. SEM and AFM micrographs show that the films are uniform and the crystallites are in the nano-dimension. AFM picture suggests a porous network structure for 3% CdO doped film. The porosity and refractive indices of the films are calculated from the transmittance and reflectance spectra. Optical band gap energy is found to decrease in the CdO doped films as the CdO doping concentration increases. The PL spectra show emissions corresponding to the near band edge (NBE) ultra violet emission and deep level emission in the visible region. The 16CdZnO film shows an intense deep green PL emission. Non-linear optical measurements using the z-scan technique indicate that the saturable absorption (SA) behavior exhibited by undoped ZnO under green light excitation (532 nm) can be changed to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) with CdO doping. From numerical simulations the saturation intensity (I_s) and the effective two-photon absorption coefficient (β) are calculated for the undoped and CdO doped ZnO films.     

Characterization of pyrolytically deposited V2O3 thin films

V₂O₃ films were deposited using the pyrolysis technique. The surface composition and structure of the deposited V₂O₃ films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Electronic conductivity measurements of the films were also carried out as a function of temperature from room temperature to about 430 K.The SEM analysis showed a smooth film surface which on exposure at high intensity showed some form of restructuring. The AES, however, indicated the presence of carbon in the deposited film while the RHEED showed a streaked pattern which could result from the restructing observed in the SEM analysis.The electrical conductivity measurements showed metallic-type behaviour in the region investigated. A smooth second-order transition was observed at about 400 K.     

Effect of film thickness on properties of aluminum doped zinc oxide thin films deposition on polymer substrate

A series of aluminum doped zinc oxide thin films with different thickness (25–150 nm) were deposited on indium tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering method at room temperature. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the films were investigated by X-ray Diffractometer, UV–Vis spectrometer and Hall Effect Measurement System. All the obtained films were polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure and a preferred orientation along [002] direction with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate surface. The optical energy band gap (E_g) values of the films were found to be in the range from 3.36 to 3.26 eV, and their average optical transmissions were about 75 % in the visible region. The films had excellent electrical properties with the resistivities in the range from 2.78 × 10^?5 to 2.03 × 10^?4 Ω cm, carrier densities more than 3.35 × 10²¹ cm^?3 and Hall mobilities between 5.77 and 11.13 cm²/V s.     

Structural and electrical properties of pyrolytically deposited carmet films

Electron micrographs of Ni-C films (carmet films) prepared by thermal decomposition of nickel acetylacetonate have been used to investigate the relationship between the structure of the films and experimental parameters (e.g. carrier gas, pressure, substrate temperature). The most significant result was that the carbon content of the films could be influenced over a wide range by the substrate temperature. It was therefore possible to produce films with a temperature coefficient of resistivity between +5000 and -2000 ppm/°C.     

Indium zinc oxide semiconductor thin films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering at room temperature

Amorphous indium zinc oxide (IZO) thin films were prepared on glass substrates by dc magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The resistivity of IZO films could be controlled between 3.8 × 10⁻³ and 2.5 × 10⁶ Ω cm by varying the oxygen partial pressure during deposition, while keep the average transmittance over 83%. With IZO films as channel layers, whose surface root-mean-square roughness was less than 1 nm, thin film transistors were fabricated at room temperature, showing enhanced mode operation with good saturation characteristics, mobility of 5.2 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, threshold voltage of 0.94 V and on/off ratio of ∼10⁴.     

氧分量对柔性衬底上WOx薄膜性能的影响

通过射频磁控溅射方法,在柔性PET衬底上低温沉积电致变色WOx薄膜.利用X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外-可见光分光光度计、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析所制备薄膜的微观结构、透光率、O元素的结合状态.结果表明,各氧分量下制备的WOx薄膜均为非晶态;氧分量0时制备的薄膜着、退色态透光率变化范围达到25%左右,具有较好的电致变色性能;XPS分析表明氧分量8%时氧空位含量最低,随着氧分量的继续增大,氧空位含量也增大.     

Influence of the molar concentration and substrate temperature on fluorine-doped zinc oxide thin films chemically sprayed

The effect of both the molar concentration of the starting solution and the substrate temperature on the electrical, morphological, structural and optical properties of chemically sprayed fluorine-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:F) thin films deposited on glass substrates is analyzed in this work. All the starting solutions employed were aged for 10 days before the deposition. The results show that as the molar concentration increases, a decrease in the electrical resistivity values is obtained, reaching the minimum resistivity in films ZnO:F deposited from a 0.4 M solution at 500 °C. A further increase in the molar concentration leads to a very slight increase in the resistivity. On the other hand, as the substrate temperature is increased, the resistivity decreases and a tendency towards to minimum value is evidenced; taking the molar concentration as parameter, minimum values are reached at 500 °C. The obtaining of ZnO:F thin films, with a resistivity as low as 7.8 × 10^− 3 Ω cm (sheet resistance of 130 Ω/□ and film thickness of 600 nm) measured in as-deposited films is reported here for the first time. The concurrent effect of the high molar concentration of the starting solution, the substrate temperature values used, and the ageing of the starting solution, which might cause polymerization of the zinc ions with the fluorine species, enhance the electrical properties. The structure of the films is polycrystalline, with a (002) preferential growth. Molar concentration rules the surface morphology as at low concentration an hexagonal and porous structure is developed changing to a uniform compact and small grain size surface in the films deposited with the high molar concentrations.     

Structural,optical and electrical properties of spray pyrolytically deposited thin films of CuInS2

CuInS₂ is a promising chalcopyrite semiconducting material for solar cell fabrication. Using aqueous solutions of cupric chloride, indium trichloride and thiourea, we deposited thin CuInS₂ films on glass at 350°C and studied their structural, optical and electrical properties. From the XRD pattern the chalcopyrite structure of these films was confirmed. The films were polycrystalline. The grain size estimated from scanning electron micrographs was found to be of the order of 1μm. Resistivity of the film was measured for temperatures ranging from 77 to 473 K. Band gap values were determined from optical transmission data. Hall mobility and carrier concentration at room temperature were calculated using Van der Pauw-Hall method.     

Effect of substrate temperature on the structure and optical properties of ZnO thin films deposited by reactive rf magnetron sputtering

Zinc Oxide films were deposited on quartz substrates by reactive rf magnetron sputtering of zinc target. The effect of substrate temperature on the crystallinity and band edge luminescence has been studied. The films deposited at 300 °C exhibited the strongest c-axis orientation. AFM and Raman studies indicated that the films deposited at 600 °C possess better overall crystallinity with reduction of optically active defects, leading to strong and narrow PL emission.     

Performances presented by zinc oxide thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis

The effect of doping and annealing atmosphere on the performances of zinc oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis have been studied. The results show that the way doping influences the electrical and structural properties depends also on the characteristics of the doping element. Annealing the as-deposited films in an inert atmosphere leads to a substantial reduction in the resistivity of the films deposited and to an increase on the degree of film’s crystallinity.     

Effect of substrate temperature on structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnO thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition

ZnO thin films were grown by the pulse laser deposition (PLD) method using Si (100) substrates at various substrate temperatures. The influence of the substrate temperature on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the ZnO thin films was investigated. All of the thin films showed c-axis growth perpendicular to the substrate surface. At a substrate temperature of 500 °C, the ZnO thin film showed the highest (002) peak with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.39°. The X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) study showed that Zn was in excess irrespective of the substrate temperature and that the thin film had a nearly stoichiometrical composition at a substrate temperature of 500 °C. The photoluminescence (PL) investigation showed that the narrowest UV FWHM of 15.8 nm and the largest ratio of the UV peak to the deep-level peak of 32.9 were observed at 500 °C. Hall effect measurement systems provided information about the carrier concentration, mobility and resistivity. At a substrate temperature of 500 °C, the Hall mobility was the value of 37.4 cm²/Vs with carrier concentration of 1.36 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ and resistivity of 2.08 × 10⁻¹ Ω cm.     

Effect of the substrate temperature on zirconium oxynitride thin films deposited by water vapour-nitrogen radiofrequency magnetron sputtering

ZrN_x films were deposited by radiofrequency reactive magnetron sputtering technique in nitrogen and water vapour atmosphere varying the working temperature from room temperature to 600 °C. The films' physical properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. It was found that the increase of temperature caused a decrease in the oxygen incorporation and a transition from cubic phase of Zr₂ON₂ to ZrN one. The formation of nanosized crystalline particles dispersed in the amorphous matrix was observed.     

衬底温度对低温制备纳米晶硅薄膜的影响

采用传统的射频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术,在较高的工作气压130Pa和较高的射频功率70W下,在＞100℃的低温下,以0.14nm/s速率制备出优质的纳米晶硅薄膜.研究结果表明,薄膜晶化率和沉积速率与衬底温度有密切关系.当衬底温度＞100℃,薄膜由非晶相向晶相转化,随着衬底温度的进一步升高,薄膜晶化率增大,当温度为300℃时,薄膜的晶化率达82%,暗电导率为10-4·cm-1数量级,激活能为0.31eV.当薄膜晶化后,沉积速率随衬底温度升高而略有增加.     

Structural properties of electrophoretically deposited europium oxide nanocrystalline thin films

The structural properties of nanocrystalline europium oxide (Eu₂O₃) thin films, produced via electrophoretic deposition (EPD), were investigated. We found that EPD from our Eu₂O₃ nanocrystal solutions yielded both translucent films, with uniform size and distribution of the microstructure, and opaque films, with marked anisotropy to the size and distribution of the constituents of the microstructure. The disparity in the film morphology arose from the initial temperature conditions of the nanocrystal solution. The translucent films, produced from pre-chilled (−25 °C) EPD solutions, were bimodal films, comprised of homogeneous, tightly packed, glassy nanocrystalline films interspersed with micron-sized nanocrystal aggregates. In contrast, the opaque films, produced from room temperature solutions, consisted of an irregularly distributed and shaped microstructure. The evolution of the microstructure was monitored for the chilled samples as a function of film thickness (deposition time) and juxtaposed with the resultant structure of the room temperature film. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the films.     

The effect of substrate temperature on the structural,optical and electrical properties of vacuum deposited ZnTe thin films

The present paper reports the effect of substrate temperature on the structural, optical and electrical properties of vacuum deposited zinc telluride (ZnTe) thin films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the films, deposited on glass substrates, revealed that they have cubic structure with strong (111) texture. Room temperature deposits are tellurium rich and an increase in the substrate temperature up to 553 °K results in stoichiometric films. Electrical conductivity has been observed to increase with the increase in substrate temperature, accompanied by increase in the carrier concentration and the mobility of the carriers. The optical bandgap energy and the thermal activation energy of the films have also been evaluated.