Properties of spray deposited tin oxide thin films derived from tri- n-butyltin acetate

Abstract

The thin films of undoped tin oxide were deposited using organotin compound tri- n-butyltin acetate onto the amorphous glass substrates at 673 K by spray pyrolysis technique. The spraying solution concentration of tri- n-butyltin acetate was varied from 12.5 to 100 mM to deposit thin films of tin oxide and their structural, electrical and optical properties have been studied, which were found to be solution concentration dependent. The thermal decomposition behaviour of the tri- n-butyltin acetate salt was studied using differential thermal analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis techniques. The preferred orientation of the film along (110) plane prevails upto 50 mM concentration, which shifts to (200) plane for higher concentrations. The values of room temperature electrical resistivity, carrier concentration and mobility of charge carrier were improved with rise in solution concentration. The samples deposited at 100 mM concentration exhibit better results than any other studied sample. The possible explanation for this is given in the present investigation.