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Title: Amorphous transparent conducting oxides in context: Work function survey, trends, and facile modification

Abstract

We report the work functions of various amorphous and crystalline transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) were measured using Kelvin probe. The films, made by pulsed laser deposition, exhibited varying work functions dependent on the composition and deposition parameters. Tin oxide showed the largest work functions of the oxides measured, while zinc oxide showed the lowest. Binary and ternary combinations of the basis TCOs showed intermediate work functions dependent on the endpoint components. Amorphous TCOs, important in OPV and other technological applications, exhibited similar work functions to their crystalline counterparts. UV/ozone treatment of TCOs temporarily increased the work function, consistent with proposed defect mechanisms associated with near-surface changes in carrier content and Fermi level. Finally, a method for facile adjustment of the work function of commercial TCOs by atomic layer deposition (ALD) capping layers was presented, illustrated by the growth of zinc oxide layers on commercial crystalline ITO films.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center (ANSER) (ANSER)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1384732
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1247213
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0001059
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Surface Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 330; Journal Issue: C; Related Information: ANSER partners with Northwestern University (lead); Argonne National Laboratory; University of Chicago; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Yale University; Journal ID: ISSN 0169-4332
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Work function; Transparent conducting oxides; Amorphous; TCO; Kelvin probe; Catalysis (homogeneous); Catalysis (heterogeneous); Solar (photovoltaic); Solar (fuels); Photosynthesis (natural and artificial); Bio-inspired; Hydrogen and fuel cells; Electrodes - solar; Defects; Charge transport; Spin dynamics; Membrane; Materials and chemistry by design; Optics; Synthesis (novel materials); Synthesis (self-assembly)

Citation Formats

Yeh, T. C., Zhu, Q., Buchholz, D. B., Martinson, A. B., Chang, R. P. H., and Mason, T. O. Amorphous transparent conducting oxides in context: Work function survey, trends, and facile modification. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.01.026.
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Yeh, T. C., Zhu, Q., Buchholz, D. B., Martinson, A. B., Chang, R. P. H., & Mason, T. O. Amorphous transparent conducting oxides in context: Work function survey, trends, and facile modification. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.01.026
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Yeh, T. C., Zhu, Q., Buchholz, D. B., Martinson, A. B., Chang, R. P. H., and Mason, T. O. Sat . "Amorphous transparent conducting oxides in context: Work function survey, trends, and facile modification". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.01.026. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1384732.
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@article{osti_1384732,
title = {Amorphous transparent conducting oxides in context: Work function survey, trends, and facile modification},
author = {Yeh, T. C. and Zhu, Q. and Buchholz, D. B. and Martinson, A. B. and Chang, R. P. H. and Mason, T. O.},
abstractNote = {We report the work functions of various amorphous and crystalline transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) were measured using Kelvin probe. The films, made by pulsed laser deposition, exhibited varying work functions dependent on the composition and deposition parameters. Tin oxide showed the largest work functions of the oxides measured, while zinc oxide showed the lowest. Binary and ternary combinations of the basis TCOs showed intermediate work functions dependent on the endpoint components. Amorphous TCOs, important in OPV and other technological applications, exhibited similar work functions to their crystalline counterparts. UV/ozone treatment of TCOs temporarily increased the work function, consistent with proposed defect mechanisms associated with near-surface changes in carrier content and Fermi level. Finally, a method for facile adjustment of the work function of commercial TCOs by atomic layer deposition (ALD) capping layers was presented, illustrated by the growth of zinc oxide layers on commercial crystalline ITO films.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.01.026},
journal = {Applied Surface Science},
number = C,
volume = 330,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.01.026
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Transparent Electrodes for Efficient Optoelectronics
    journal, March 2017

    • Morales-Masis, Monica; De Wolf, Stefaan; Woods-Robinson, Rachel
    • Advanced Electronic Materials, Vol. 3, Issue 5
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    Recent Advances in Understanding the Structure and Properties of Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors
    journal, August 2017

    • Medvedeva, Julia E.; Buchholz, D. Bruce; Chang, Robert P. H.
    • Advanced Electronic Materials, Vol. 3, Issue 9
    • DOI: 10.1002/aelm.201700082

    On the use of a charged tunnel layer as a hole collector to improve the efficiency of amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells
    journal, June 2015

    • Ke, Cangming; Peters, Ian Marius; Sahraei, Nasim
    • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 24
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.4922963

    Suitability of Various Materials for Probes in Scanning Kelvin Probe Measurements
    journal, December 2017

    • Huber, Silvia; Wicinski, Mariusz; Hassel, Achim Walter
    • physica status solidi (a), Vol. 215, Issue 15
    • DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201700952
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