Low temperature fabrication of highly transparent conducting SnO2–ZnO films by inexpensive, simplified spray technique

Abstract

Transparent conducting SnO2–ZnO films were fabricated by employing an inexpensive, simplified spray technique using a perfume atomiser at relatively low substrate temperature (360±5°C) compared with the conventional spray pyrolysis method. The structural studies reveal that the films are crystalline in nature with preferential orientation along the (101) plane. The average optical transmittance in the visible range is >88%. The electrical resistivity increases with the increase in Zn concentration. The low temperature coefficient of resistance (–1·191 K–1) shows that the films have good thermal stability. The wide band gap (3·50–3·56 eV) and reasonable figure of merit (1·63 × 10–2 Ω–1) of the films make them desirable candidates for low cost solar cell window layers. Thus, this simplest spray technique can be used as a promising alternative to conventional spray for the massive production of economic SnO2–ZnO films for solar cell applications.