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:
-
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
- 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:
- Journal Article: 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.
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
Yeh, T. C., Zhu, Q., Buchholz, D. B., Martinson, A. B., Chang, R. P. H., and Mason, T. O. 2015.
"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.
@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},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1384732},
journal = {Applied Surface Science},
issn = {0169-4332},
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}
}
Web of Science
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