How spray rate influences the formation and properties of transparent conducting SnO2 thin films

摘要

Spray rate is rather a little-explored critical parameter in chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP). But interestingly it strongly influences formation and properties of the films. Hence in the present work, we report results of systematic analysis of changes in structural, electrical, optical, morphological and compositional properties of sprayed SnO2 films due to controlled variation in spray rate. We have observed two order enhancement in carrier concentration and conductivity and a two fold increase in charge mobility with increase in spray rate alone. Increase in carrier concentration with spray rate is also evident from the observed decrease in transmittance in IR region due to the increase in free carrier absorption. Analysis of the films using X-ray photo electron spectroscopy revealed increase in metal to oxygen ratio and reduction in unwanted oxygen species with spray rate. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.