Tin doped indium oxide transparent conducting thin films containing silver nanoparticles by sol-gel technique

Abstract

Tin doped indium oxide films (ITO) with embedded silver nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel spin coating method. Delafossite structure of tin doped AgInO2 was found at lower annealing temperatures in all compositions and decomposed into ITO and Ag as annealing temperatures were increased. The interconnected network of Ag phases provides effective conducting paths that reduced the electrical resistivity of the films to 8.2×10−5Ωcm. The optical transmissions of the films are greater than 80% in visible wavelength and show an absorption band towards longer wavelength at higher Ag concentrations.

Microstructure and optical properties of nano Ag-ITO films

“…This absorption peak was attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of Ag nanoparticles, which was consistent with the measured results of the Ag-ITO films prepared by sputtering Ag on ITO coated glass substrates [19] or sol-gel spin coating ITO solutions containing Ag + on Pyrex borosilicate glass substrates [20]. As Ag fraction increased from 0.6% to 1.0%, the absorption peak became much wider, which made the SPR peaks undetectable.…”

“…As Ag fraction increased from 0.6% to 1.0%, the absorption peak became much wider, which made the SPR peaks undetectable. Actually, both theoretical studies [21,22] and experimental results [20] have pointed out that for metal-dielectric or metal-semiconductor granular films, with metal particles fraction increasing, the SPR peak would red-shift and expand its width. Figure 6 Absorbance spectra of (a) the as-deposited films and (b) the annealed films.…”

Preparation of Ag‐AZO Nanocomposite Powder Compact for RF Magnetron Sputtering Target Application

“…Ag–ITO nanocomposite thin films with various Ag concentrations were prepared based on sol‐gel wet‐coating technique . A pure ITO oxide sol and a solution of Ag + ion were separately prepared.…”

“…16 Ag-ITO nanocomposite thin films with various Ag concentrations were prepared based on sol-gel wet-coating technique. 17 A pure ITO oxide sol and a solution of Ag + ion were separately prepared. Then the containing Ag + solution was poured into the ITO solutions under gentle stirring for 2 h. Ag-ITO films can be obtained after spin-coating and annealing processes.…”

Spectral response of nanocrystalline ZnO films embedded with Au nanoparticles

“…Therefore, such systems are of interest from fundamental and application points of view. For example, Ag nanoparticles embedded in indium tin oxide thin films [11] have shown much enhancement in electrical conductivity, without significant loss in the optical transmittance.…”