Optical and electrical properties of transparent conducting B-doped ZnO thin films prepared by various deposition methods

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, International Journal Devoted to Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.3591348· OSTI ID:22054106

Nomoto, Jun-ichi; Miyata, Toshihiro; Minami, Tadatsugu ^[1]

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1. Optoelectronic Device System R and D Center, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, 7-1 Ohgigaoka, Nonoichi, Ishikawa 921-8501 (Japan)

B-doped ZnO (BZO) thin films were prepared with various thicknesses up to about 500 nm on glass substrates at 200 deg. C by dc or rf magnetron sputtering deposition, pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and vacuum arc plasma evaporation (VAPE) methods. Resistivities of 4-6 x 10{sup -4}{Omega} cm were obtained in BZO thin films prepared with a B content [B/(B + Zn) atomic ratio] around 1 at. % by PLD and VAPE methods: Hall mobilities above 40 cm{sup 2}/Vs and carrier concentrations on the order of 10{sup 20} cm{sup -3}. All 500-nm-thick-BZO thin films prepared with a resistivity on the order of 10{sup -3}-10{sup -4}{Omega} cm exhibited an averaged transmittance above 80% in the wavelength range of 400-1100 nm. The resistivity in BZO thin films prepared with a thickness below about 500 nm was found to increase over time with exposure to various high humidity environments. In heat-resistance tests, the resistivity stability of BZO thin films was found to be nearly equal to that of Ga-doped ZnO thin films, so these films were judged suitable for use as a transparent electrode for thin-film solar cells.

• OSTI ID: 22054106
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, International Journal Devoted to Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Vol. 29, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Vacuum Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1553-1813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BORON
CARRIER MOBILITY
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ENERGY BEAM DEPOSITION
EVAPORATION
GALLIUM
GLASS
HUMIDITY
LASER RADIATION
MAGNETRONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PULSED IRRADIATION
SOLAR CELLS
SPUTTERING
THIN FILMS
ZINC OXIDES