Transparent conductors as solar energy materials: A panoramic review

Solution combustion is an exciting phenomenon, which involves propagation of self-sustained exothermic reactions along an aqueous or sol–gel media. This process allows for the synthesis of a variety of nanoscale materials, including oxides, metals, alloys, and sulfides. This Review focuses on the analysis of new approaches and results in the field of solution combustion synthesis (SCS) obtained during recent years. Thermodynamics and kinetics of reactive solutions used in different chemical routes are considered, and the role of process parameters is discussed, emphasizing the chemical mechanisms that are responsible for rapid self-sustained combustion reactions. The basic principles for controlling the composition, structure, and nanostructure of SCS products, and routes to regulate the size and morphology of the nanoscale materials are also reviewed. Recently developed systems that lead to the formation of novel materials and unique structures (e.g., thin films and two-dimensional crystals) with unusual...

Solution Combustion Synthesis of Nanoscale Materials

Electrical and optical properties of ZnO transparent conducting films by the sol-gel method

Mechanical integrity of transparent conductive oxide films for flexible polymer-based displays

Transparent conducting ZnO:Al, In and Sn thin films deposited by the sol–gel method

Low-temperature growth of low-resistivity indium-tin-oxide thin films by pulsed laser deposition

Formation of CuIn(S,Se)2 thin film by thermal diffusion of sulfur and selenium vapours into Cu–In alloy within a closed graphite container

Phase formation and control of morphology in sputtered Cu–In alloy layers

Cu–In alloy films were prepared on bare or Mo-coated glass by co-sputtering from Cu and In targets at ambient temperature. The formation of CuInS2 films was accomplished by sulfurization within a graphite container under high S vapor pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the alloy films showed predominant variation of the phases from In→CuIn2→Cu11In9 as the Cu content in the films increased. The sulfurized In-rich films formed the CuIn5S8 phase that steadily transformed into CuInS2 as film composition changed toward the Cu-rich region. SEM analysis showed different morphologies for the CuIn5S8 and CuInS2 films. Cu-rich films exhibited very dense crystal structures. EDX composition measurements on the films showed Cu/(Cu+In) varying from 0.21 to 0.64 and S/(Cu+In) from 0.80 to 1.36. Resistivities in the range of 2.36 to 1.7×108 Ωcm were obtained. Studies of the growth mechanism indicated formation of CuIn5S8 as the main secondary phase in both Cu-rich and In-rich films at low temperatures before conversion into CuInS2 at temperatures >400°C.

Characterization of CuInS 2 Thin Films Grown by Close-spaced Vapor Sulfurization of Co-sputtered Cu–In Alloy Precursors

Crystalline tin (Sn)-doped indium oxide (ITO) films grown at room temperature (RT) using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) coupled with laser irradiation of the growing films are discussed. The energy of the laser irradiation beam was ~0.07 Jcm-2. The films were deposited from Sn-doped (0–10 wt%) In2O3 targets under oxygen pressure (PO2 ) of 10-2 Torr. At RT, the laser-irradiated and nonirradiated portions of the films yielded resistivities of ~1.2×10-4 and ~2.5×10-4 Ωcm, respectively. At 200°C, a resistivity of 8.9×10-5 Ωcm was observed for the laser-irradiated part of the ITO films.

F.O. Adurodija

Papers

Low-temperature growth of low-resistivity indium-tin-oxide thin films by pulsed laser deposition

Formation of CuIn(S,Se)2 thin film by thermal diffusion of sulfur and selenium vapours into Cu–In alloy within a closed graphite container

Phase formation and control of morphology in sputtered Cu–In alloy layers

Characterization of CuInS 2 Thin Films Grown by Close-spaced Vapor Sulfurization of Co-sputtered Cu–In Alloy Precursors

Pulsed Laser Deposition of Crystalline Indium Tin Oxide Films at Room Temperature by Substrate Laser Irradiation