Bilayer Deposition Research Articles

Recent advances in the transparent conducting ZnO for thin-film Si solar cells

The key challenge for solar-cell development lies in the improvement of power-conversion efficiency and the reduction of fabrication cost. For thin-film Si solar cells, researches have been especially focused on the light trapping for the breakthrough in the saturated efficiencies. The ZnO-based transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) have therefore received strong attention because of their excellent light-scattering capability by the texture-etched surface and cost effectiveness through in-house fabrication. Here, we have highlighted our recent studies on the transparent conducting ZnO for thin-film Si solar cells. From the electrical properties and their degradation mechanisms, bilayer deposition and organic-acid texturing approaches for enhancing the light trapping, and finally the relation between textured ZnO and electrical cell performances are sequentially introduced in this review article.

Effects of deposition method on the microstructure and intermetallic compound formation in Ag–Sn bilayers

Abstract Thermal evaporation and magnetron sputtering were used for the deposition of bilayers of Ag and Sn with different stacking sequences of the sublayers, Ag on Sn (Ag/Sn) or Sn on Ag (Sn/Ag). The deposition method used significantly affects the intermetallic compound (IMC) formation in these thin films already during film deposition. Comparison of the corresponding microstructures and textures indicates that the observed, striking differences in IMC formation for the case of Ag/Sn bilayers can be related to the interplay of Sn upward diffusion, surface energy and interfacial intermixing for the two deposition methods.

Recent advances in the transparent conducting ZnO for thin-film Si solar cells

The key challenge for solar-cell development lies in the improvement of power-conversion efficiency and the reduction of fabrication cost. For thin-film Si solar cells, researches have been especially focused on the light trapping for the breakthrough in the saturated efficiencies. The ZnO-based transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) have therefore received strong attention because of their excellent light-scattering capability by the texture-etched surface and cost effectiveness through in-house fabrication. Here, we have highlighted our recent studies on the transparent conducting ZnO for thin-film Si solar cells. From the electrical properties and their degradation mechanisms, bilayer deposition and organic-acid texturing approaches for enhancing the light trapping, and finally the relation between textured ZnO and electrical cell performances are sequentially introduced in this review article.

Monoamine oxidase B layer-by-layer film fabrication and characterization toward dopamine detection.

In this work nanostructured film composites of the monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) enzyme, free or encapsulated in liposomes, were fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique, employing polyethylene imine (PEI) as polycation. Initially, the MAO-B enzyme was incorporated into liposomes in order to preserve its enzymatic structure ensuring their activity and catalytic stability. The LbL film growth was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) by gold resonance angle shift analysis after each bilayer deposition. Subsequently, the films were applied as amperometric biosensors for dopamine detection using Prussian Blue (PB) as the electron mediator. The biosensor fabricated by MAO-B incorporated into liposomes composed of DPPG:POPG in the ratio (1:4) (w/w) showed the best performance with a sensitivity of 0.86 (μA cm(-2))/(mmol L(-1)) and a detection limit of 0.33 mmol L(-1).

Electrophoretic Deposition of Bilayer Based on Sacrificial Titanium Dioxide and Lead Zirconate Titanate on Bare Silicon Wafer

Bilayer thick films of sacrificial titanium dioxide and Nb-doped lead zirconate titanate (PZTN) have been deposited on bare silicon wafers using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. Deposition of such ceramic particles, dispersed ethanol-based suspensions, on semiconductor substrate has been made possible after preparation of alloyed junctions Al/Si characterized by ohmic behaviour. Sintering of green TiO2/PZTN films was performed at 900 °C for 1 h. The composition of the films, the thickness and relative density of the deposited materials have been analysed by EDS-SEM analysis. The lead diffusion through the silicon wafer has been reduced.

Characterisation of shear wave velocity profiles of non-uniform bi-layer soil deposits: Analytical evaluation and experimental validation

A crucial aspect of physical geotechnical model tests (under both 1-g and n-g conditions) is the evaluation of the initial (low-strain) stiffness of the soil layers of the sample test deposit, especially in the case of coarse materials. While for uniform soil deposits this issue can be addressed in a straightforward manner, e.g. by determining the fundamental frequency through the transfer function of an applied white-noise excitation, the problem becomes cumbersome for multi-layered deposits. After reviewing a number of available theoretical solutions, this paper illustrates a simplified yet reliable analytical procedure for determining the shear wave velocity profile (Vs) in a single or bi-layer deposit, taking into account the inhomogeneity of the individual soil layers, under the hypothesis of vanishing shear modulus at ground surface. The fundamental natural frequency of the inhomogeneous bi-layer deposit is analysed using the Rayleigh quotient procedure. The associated shape function is evaluated by considering the equilibrium of the soil column under a pseudo-static lateral inertial excitation imposed at its base, accounting for both layering and inhomogeneity. A validation of the proposed method is provided by comparing numerical results obtained from both time- and frequency- domain analyses against experimental data on Leighton Buzzard sand, from a recently-completed research project conducted on the shaking table facility at BLADE Laboratory, University of Bristol (UK).

Bilayer lift-off process for aluminum metallization

Recently published reports in the literature for bilayer lift-off processes have described recipes for the patterning of metals that have recommended metal-ion-free developers, which do etch aluminum. We report the first measurement of the dissolution rate of a commercial lift-off resist (LOR) in a sodium-based buffered commercial developer that does not etch aluminum. We describe a reliable lift-off recipe that is safe for multiple process steps in patterning thin (<100 nm) and thick aluminum devices with micron-feature sizes. Our patterning recipe consists of an acid cleaning of the substrate, the bilayer (positive photoresist/LOR) deposition and development, the sputtering of the aluminum film along with a palladium capping layer and finally, the lift-off of the metal film by immersion in the LOR solvent. The insertion into the recipe of postexposure and sequential develop-bake-develop process steps are necessary for an acceptable undercut. Our recipe also eliminates any need for accompanying sonication during lift-off that could lead to delamination of the metal pattern from the substrate. Fine patterns were achieved for both 100-nm-thick granular aluminum/palladium bilayer bolometers and 500-nm-thick aluminum gratings with 6-μm lines and 4-μm spaces.

Systematic study on the sensitivity enhancement in graphene plasmonic sensors based on layer-by-layer self-assembled graphene oxide multilayers and their reduced analogues.

The use of graphene in conventional plasmonic devices was suggested by several theoretic research studies. However, the existing theoretic studies are not consistent with one another and the experimental studies are still at the initial stage. To reveal the role of graphenes on the plasmonic sensors, we deposited graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) thin films on Au films and their refractive index (RI) sensitivity was compared for the first time in SPR-based sensors. The deposition of GO bilayers with number of deposition L from 1 to 5 was carried out by alternative dipping of Au substrate in positively- and negatively charged GO solutions. The fabrication of layer-by-layer self-assembly of the graphene films was monitored in terms of the SPR angle shift. GO-deposited Au film was treated with hydrazine to reduce the GO. For the rGO-Au sample, 1 bilayer sample showed a higher RI sensitivity than bare Au film, whereas increasing the rGO film from 2 to 5 layers reduced the RI sensitivity. In the case of GO-deposited Au film, the 3 bilayer sample showed the highest sensitivity. The biomolecular sensing was also performed for the graphene multilayer systems using BSA and anti-BSA antibody.

Polydopamine as an Efficient Polymer to Prepare Biologically Relevant Supported Lipid Bilayers

Solid-supported lipid bilayers (s-SLBs) are widely used as versatile biological membrane mimics. However, lipid-solid surface interactions and ensuing frictions lead to a decrease in lipid mobility. To address this issue, we prepared polymer-supported lipid membranes using a soft polymer cushion as a lubricating layer. A bioinspired polymer, polydopamine was chosen due to its ability to easily form thin coatings onto a wide range of surfaces, with a control of the thickness depending on the immersion time of the substrate.Polydopamine coated-mica was used to support zwitterionic phospholipid bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was performed to verify the deposition of DMPC and DOPC bilayers, revealing the presence of lipid patches on the polymer surface. The addition of positively charged cholesterol (DC-Chol) in the membrane composition greatly improved the lipid surface coverage (up to 90%). Best results were obtained for 20 and 30% DC-Chol containing membranes.They were also further characterized with other surface-sensitive techniques such as fluorescence microscopy to assess the phospholipid mobility. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) results showed the irreversible deposition of the lipid bilayers on the polymer surface. The polydopamine polymer film proved to be efficient to maintain fluidity of the phospholipid bilayers, thus enhancing this class of membrane model. We will present practical application of our s-SLBs onto porous filters as an improved model of Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) to better predict passive permeation of orally administered drugs.

Comparison of Change in Surface Structure of POPC Surfactant Bilayer on Si Substrate with MIES &amp; UPS

Nanoparticles in the recent times have drawn more attention in the field of electronics and in particular their property of self assembly over another material surface makes them a suitable component in the development of Nanoscale materials. Self organization property of Nanoparticles has opened up whole new possibilities in the construction of 2D nanostructures through deposition of organized bilayer of surfactant called black films on a solid substrate. Newton Black Films which are much thinner than a Common Black Films attracted more interests recently with their ability to form more complex structures. In this article, Newton Black films of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphaticylcholine) surfactant is formed and deposited on a solid substrate after a certain amount of time and their surface structure were analyzed with time. The experiment is conducted at three different drainage states; un-dried, un-dried with a salt present, and dried; their results are compared with MIES and UPS spectrum. Where, MIES spectra being more sensitive towards surface modification show that the structure becomes more ordered with drainage time and the process gets even faster with the addition of a salt. Comparatively, in MIES the presence of new elements is more clearly observed with the variation in their energy spectra on the drained film substrate than in the un-drained substrate owing to the fact that the drained film has more patterned outermost layer comprised with the new elements.

Effects of annealing in Be/W and Be/C bilayers deposited on Si(0 0 1) substrates with Fe buffer layers

Atomic intermixing processes in relation to structural aspects and phase formation in Be based thin films subjected to different annealing treatments simulating the case of re-deposited layered structures on plasma facing components in nuclear fusion devices are reported. Accordingly, bilayers of Be/W and Be/C have been deposited on Si(001) substrates with Fe buffer layers. The Fe films have been prepared by radiofrequency sputtering and further processed by annealing in hydrogen atmosphere at 300°C, for 90min, at a pressure of 10 bars of H2. After the Be/W and Be/C bilayer deposition by means of thermionic vacuum arc method, annealing in vacuum at 600°C, for 10min has been applied to the complex structures. The influence of annealing on the phase composition and atomic intermixing processes in the complex structures has been studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). The layered structures present an oxidation gradient with oxide phases in the uppermost layers and non-oxidized phases in the lower layers, as observed from the XPS data. The CEMS results revealed that the as-deposited structures contain a main metallic Fe phase and secondary superparamagnetic Fe oxide phases at the Fe/Be interface, while annealed samples present a large contribution of Fe–Be and Fe–C mixtures. The annealing treatment induces considerable atomic interdiffusion, strongly dependent on the nature of the upper layer. In the case of Be/W system, the annealing provides a much rougher Be/W interface, while in case of the Be/C structure, the annealing treatment only homogenize the structure over the whole depth.

Chemical vapor deposition of twisted bilayer and few-layer MoSe2 over SiOx substrates

The chemical vapor deposition of monolayer and few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides is a rapidly developing area of materials science due to the exciting electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of transition metal dichalcogenides in their layered form. These properties make these innovative materials potentially relevant to wide-ranging commercial applications. One of these promising materials is MoSe2; however, just recently, a few research groups have been able to demonstrate its synthesis via chemical vapor deposition. Moreover, only oriented few-layer MoSe2 has been exhibited by synthetically formed material using chemical vapor deposition thus far. Here, we confirm twisted-layer MoSe2 can also form during chemical vapor deposition. Twisted-layer transition metal dichalcogenides alter their properties as compared to their oriented counterparts. Therefore, twisted-layer structures are of interest because they can tune their properties.

Electroplating of Aluminum with Nickel Particle Codeposition

Aluminum-nickel nanostructured thin films have many uses. The exothermic mixing of the phases may be implemented for localized heat generation wherever restricted welding, brazing or local energy release may be required. Current fabrication methods generally rely on vapor deposition processes that require high vacuum and are limited to low rates. New fabrication methods such as electroplating these films can result in significant improvement of energetic density and cost savings. To pursue this, we investigated aluminum deposition to determine the characteristics and mechanism of the complex reduction process, nickel particle incorporation into an aluminum matrix, and nickel deposition properties in a multicomponent bath.Because aluminum has a lower atomic density than nickel and the desired mixing ratio is 1:1, the aluminum volume must be 60% of the total. The codeposition process is limited in its capability for particle incorporation by particle diffusion and geometric hindrances and therefore the particulate species is almost always a significantly lower volume percentage than the matrix. For this reason the aluminum is the matrix material that is deposited out of the electrolyte and the nickel component is incorporated as imbedded particles. Aluminum deposition must be carried out in aprotic solvents because the reduction potential is lower than that of hydrogen, making aluminum deposits using aqueous solutions inefficient and low quality. Electrolytes were characterized based on transport properties and deposition kinetics.Some of the most promising aluminum deposition is done in Chloroaluminate RTILs (room temperature ionic liquids) 2. These solutions are high aluminum concentration and low vapor pressure but typically high viscosity. Additions of toluene have improved the dendritic morphology and at 30-50 volume% toluene, the bath produces a smooth uniform coating of aluminum 1. The dilutions reduce the viscosity, and participate in complexing with the reactants, modifying the reduction and transport properties. These electrolytes are investigated with RDE and EIS to determine the reaction properties of aluminum deposition. The reported reduction of aluminum metal occurs from the complex Al2Cl7-. This bulky anion has very poor diffusion properties, there are kinetic limitations due to the complex multi-step reduction process and our experiments aim to analyze the reaction mechanism to optimize the electrolyte composition, speciation and applied deposition current and potential.EIS conductivity measurements show that pure TMPAC:AlCl3 ionic liquids have low conductivity and the conductivity is greatly increased with dilution with toluene or dichlorobenzene, although a maximum is reached as the improved transport starts to be overcome by the reduced ionic concentrations. This maximum conductivity is reached at about 50-60 molar% of DCB to IL.Although these aluminum deposition electrolytes have been used before, little fundamental understanding of mechanism has been undertaken; a better understanding of the reaction properties will allow for design of a more effective codeposition process. Codeposition with particulates in aluminum enables production of heterogeneous films with improved mechanical properties; and cost effective bilayer or alloy deposition will increase aluminum’s already large applicability. Bi-phasic films may also be produced by alternatively depositing Al and Ni layer, and Nickel properties in the electrolyte were studied to develop this fabrication method also.Comparisons are made between the electrochemically produced film and the commercial PVD film. These are characterized by energy release, burn rate. The high interfacial area of these films is subject to atomic diffusion which can reduce the burn characteristics. TEM analysis of the interfacial layers seems to indicate that the lower temperature process associated with codeposition can reduce this pre-reaction mixing. Accelerated aging is being performed on film from both fabrication methods and increased temperature heavily influences interatomic mixing.

Electrochemically deposited thiophene-based polymers as protective agents for Prussian Blue thin films

A composite material based on overlapped layers of electrochemically synthesized Prussian Blue (PB) and terthiophene-derived polymer is described, aiming at enhancing the stability of the hexacyanoferrate thanks to the protective action of the polymer. Two bilayer configurations and deposition methods (for the polymer component) were tested. The morphology and electrochemical behavior in organic solvent and in aqueous solutions containing different supporting electrolytes were carried out. The best performances of electrodes modified with films of the composite material as to increased stability of PB were achieved with the potentiostatically deposited polymer covering the PB layer, in acetate buffer at pH 5.5. As for potential cycling stress, the anodic and cathodic peak currents due to PB were not decreased after 20 cycles. Conversely, PB alone displayed the anodic peak currents relevant to PB/Prussian White (PW) and PB/Berlin Green (BG) systems decreased by about 30 %. The stability to local pH increase was assessed by cyclic voltammetry after electrochemical reduction of H2O2. For example, the anodic peak currents were decreasing by 15 % and 5 % for the two PB redox systems, while for PB alone the same currents decreased by 35 % and 10 %. The response sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide was improved by 54 %, with respect to PB alone, as evaluated by chronoamperometry.

Asymmetric phospholipid: lipopolysaccharide bilayers; a Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane mimic.

The Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane (OM) is a complex and highly asymmetric biological barrier but the small size of bacteria has hindered advances in in vivo examination of membrane dynamics. Thus, model OMs, amenable to physical study, are important sources of data. Here, we present data from asymmetric bilayers which emulate the OM and are formed by a simple two-step approach. The bilayers were deposited on an SiO2 surface by Langmuir–Blodgett deposition of phosphatidylcholine as the inner leaflet and, via Langmuir–Schaefer deposition, an outer leaflet of either Lipid A or Escherichia coli rough lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The membranes were examined using neutron reflectometry (NR) to examine the coverage and mixing of lipids between the bilayer leaflets. NR data showed that in all cases, the initial deposition asymmetry was mostly maintained for more than 16 h. This stability enabled the sizes of the headgroups and bilayer roughness of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and Lipid A, Rc-LPS and Ra-LPS to be clearly resolved. The results show that rough LPS can be manipulated like phospholipids and used to fabricate advanced asymmetric bacterial membrane models using well-known bilayer deposition techniques. Such models will enable OM dynamics and interactions to be studied under in vivo-like conditions.

Fabrication of multi-electrode array platforms for neuronal interfacing with bi-layer lift-off resist sputter deposition

We report a bi-layer lift-off resist (LOR) technique in combination with sputter deposition of silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a new passivation method in the fabrication of a multi-electrode array (MEA). Using the photo-insensitive LOR as a sacrificial bottom layer and the negative photoresist as a patterning top layer, and performing low-temperature sputter deposition of SiO2 followed by lift-off, we could successfully fabricate damage-free indium-tin oxide (ITO) and Au MEA. The bi-layer LOR sputter deposition processed Au MEA showed an impedance value of 6 × 105 Ω (at 1 kHz), with good consistency over 60 electrodes. The passivation performance of the bi-layer LOR sputter-deposited SiO2 was tested by electrodepositing Au nanoparticles (NPs) on the Au electrode, resulting in the well-confined and uniformly coated Au NPs. The bi-layer LOR sputter deposition processed ITO, Au, and Au NP-modified MEAs were evaluated and found to have a neuronal spike recording capability at a single unit level, confirming the validity of the bi-layer LOR sputter deposition as an effective passivation technique in fabrication of a MEA. These results suggest that the damage-free Au MEA fabricated with bi-layer LOR sputter deposition would be a viable platform for screening surface modification techniques that are available in neuronal interfacing.

Photoluminescence Dynamics of CdSe QD/Polymer Langmuir–Blodgett Thin Films: Morphology Effects

Thin films of colloidal semiconductor CdSe quantum-dots (QDs) and a styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer were prepared by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique and their photoluminescence was characterized by confocal fluorescence lifetime microscopy. In the films, the photoluminescence dynamics are strongly affected by excitation energy migration between close-packed quantum-dots and energy trapping by surface-defective QDs or small clusters of aggregated QDs. Polymer/QD films with more aggregated QD regions exhibit lower PL intensities and faster decays, which we attribute primarily to the increased ability of excitations to find trap sites among more close-packed QD regions. This was confirmed by comparing films from bilayer or cospreading deposition, and varying the QD-to-polymer composition or the surface pressure at deposition. The more regular films, such as those obtained by bilayer deposition at high-pressure, display more surface emission intensity and decays with less accentuated curvature. Decay analysis was performed with a model that accounts for excitation energy migration and trapping in the films. In the framework of the model, the photoluminescence dynamics are related to film morphology through the density of energy traps. A lower amount of QD clustering in the films reflects on a lower density of energy traps and, thus, on more emissive QD films, as inferred here for bilayer films relative to cospreading films.

Electrophoretic bilayer deposition of zirconia and reinforced bioglass system on Ti6Al4V for implant applications: An in vitro investigation

The physical, chemical and biological properties of the bioglass reinforced yttria-stabilized composite layer on Ti6Al4V titanium substrates were investigated. The Ti6Al4V substrate was deposited with yttria stabilized zirconia — YSZ as the base layer of thickness ≈4–5μm, to inhibit metal ion leach out from the substrate and bioglass zirconia reinforced composite as the second layer of thickness ≈15μm, which would react with surrounding bone tissue to enhance bone formation and implant fixation. The deposition of these two layers on the substrate was carried out using the most viable electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. Biocompatible yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) in the form of nano-particles and sol gel derived bioglass in the form of micro-particles were chosen as precursors for coating. The coatings were vacuum sintered at 900°C for 3h. The biocompatibility and corrosion resistance property were studied in osteoblast cell culture and in simulated body fluid (SBF) respectively. Analysis showed that the zirconia reinforced bioglass bilayer system promoted significant bioactivity, and it exhibited a better corrosion resistance property and elevated mechanical strength under load bearing conditions in comparison with the monolayer YSZ coating on Ti6Al4V implant surface.

Layer‐by‐Layer Films from Wine: An Investigation of an Exponential Growth Process

We report on the preparation and study of layer‐by‐layer films of wine alternated with bovine serum albumin (BSA). We found that the exponential and/or linear growth of the films is dependent on the deposition time. Atomic force microscopy images were analysed using scale laws and the fractal dimension, and the results suggested that the BSA/wine film growth regime is determined by sub‐bilayer or bilayer growth. Exponential growth was associated with a sub‐bilayer deposition regime, whereas linear growth was associated with a bilayer deposition in which a constant amount of material is deposited.

An atmospheric pressure-based electrospraying route to fabricate the multi-applications bilayer (AZO/ITO) TCO films

A bilayer film composed of an upper-layer of aluminum-doped ZnO (AZO) film and a lower-layer of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) film (designated as AZO/ITO) has been successfully fabricated using an atmospheric pressure-based electrospraying method and studied as an excellent transparent electrode, efficient field-emitter and the dye-sensitized solar-cell (DSSC) electrodes in order to develop a cost-effective alternative fabrication method. The morphological, optical and electrical properties were examined for the single layer of an ITO, an AZO and the bilayer AZO/ITO film. The composition of the films was confirmed with the help of energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photospectroscopy (XPS). The bilayer AZO/ITO film presented an enhanced optical transparency of 95% with improved electrical performance, exhibited a resistivity of 9.3 × 10−5 Ω cm and a mobility of 49.5 cm2 V−1 s−1 compared to single layer TCO films that might be useful for optoelectronic devices. Moreover, the lowest turn-on field of ∼3.8 V μm−1, and highest emission current density of 3.9 mA cm−2 was obtained for bilayer AZO/ITO film under the field of 7.6 V μm−1, and the highest field enhancement factor (β) was estimated to be 3315 ± 2, compared with AZO and ITO single layer films. Furthermore, films exhibit good long period emission current stability with a variation of less than 4% during 30 h under a field of 7.6 V μm−1. For DSSCs, the photoanode composed of AZO film only showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) as low as 0.57% with a short-circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 2.5 mA cm−2 and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 425 mV. The photoanode with ITO film only exhibited higher PCE (0.84%) because of higher JSC (4.0 mA cm−2), whereas VOC (375 mV) was lower than that of AZO film. Compared to AZO and ITO single layer films, the bilayer structured AZO/ITO film demonstrated much higher PCE (2.4%) because of both higher JSC (7.4 mA cm−2) and VOC (600 mV). Addition of an AZO layer over the ITO layer significantly improved the electron transport and lifetime compared to the ITO only film. One order of magnitude slower charge recombination rate for the bilayer film than for the ITO film was found to be a major factor for the improved efficiency. The fabricated cells show highly durable cell performances, even after 40 days under atmospheric conditions. The proposed atmospheric pressure-based electrospraying film fabrication method was well suitable for the deposition of bilayer AZO/ITO films which found multi-applications as an excellent transparent electrode, efficient field-emitter and improved DSSC when compared with other vacuum-based methods.