Optoelectronic Properties of Fluorine and Cobalt Co-Doped Tin Oxide Thin Films Deposited by Chemical Spray Pyrolysis

Abstract:

Transparent conducting Cobalt-fluorine co-doped tin oxide (SnO₂: (Co, F)) thin filmswere deposited onto preheated glass substrates using the chemical spray pyrolysis method. The ([Co²⁺]/[Sn⁴⁺]) atomic concentration ratio (y)in the spray solution was varied between 0 and 5 at. %. The structural, electrical, optical and photoluminescence properties of these films were studied. It is found that the thin films are polycrystalline with a tetragonal crystal structure corresponding to SnO₂ phase having a preferred orientation along the (200) plane. Transmission and reflection spectra reveal the presence of interference fringes indicating thickness uniformity and surface homogeneity of the deposited thin films. The electrical resistivity (ρ), volume carrier concentration density (N_v), surface carrier concentration density (N_s) and Hall mobility (μ) of the synthesized thin films were determined from the Hall Effect measurements in the Van der Paw-configuration and the following results were obtained: n-type conductivity in all deposited films, a low resistivity of 1.16×10^-2 Ω.cm, and a high Hall mobility of 15.13×10² cm².V^-1.s^-1with Co concentration equals to 3 at. %. These results show that the electrical properties of these thin films where greatly improved making them suitable as ohmic contact in photovoltaic application devices.

• Periodical: Journal of Nano Research (Volume 60)
• Pages: 63-75
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JNanoR.60.63
• Online since: November 2019
• Authors: Naoual Houaidji*, Mejda Ajili, Baghdadi Chouial, Najoua Kamoun-Turki, Kenza Kamli, Asma Khadraoui, Beddiaf Zaidi, Bouzid Hadjoudja, Alloua Chibani, Zakaria Hadef
• Keywords: Chemical Spray Pyolysis, Co-F Co-Doped SnO₂, Optoelectronic Properties, Thin Films

References

[1] T.N. Soitah, C. Yang, L. Sun, Structural, optical and electrical properties of Fe-doped SnO2 fabricated by sol-gel dip coating technique, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing,13 (2010) 125-131.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2010.03.002

[2] B. Zhang, Y. Tian, J.X. Zhang, W. Cai, The structural and electrical studies on the Boron-doped SnO2 films deposited by spray pyrolysis, Vacuum, 85 (2011) 986-989.

DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2011.02.005

[3] E. Mokaripoor, M-M.Bagheri-Mohagheghi, Study of structural, electrical and photoconductive properties of F and P co-doped SnO2 transparent semiconducting thin film deposited by spray pyrolysis, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 30 (2015) 400-405.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2014.10.049

[4] C. Khelifi, A. Attaf, H. Saidi, A. Yahia, M. Dahnoun, A. Saadi, Effect of solution flow on the properties of tin dioxide SnO2 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique, Optik, 127 (2016) 11055-11062.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.060

[5] Shadia J. Ikhmayies, The influence of annealing on the optical properties of spray-deposited SnO2: F thin films, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, xxx (2016) 1-8.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.02.039

[6] H. Khallaf, C. Ta Chen, L. Be Chang, O. Lupan, A. Dutta, H. Heinrich, F. Haque, E. del Barco, L. Chow, Chemical bath deposition of SnO2and Cd2SnO4 thin films, Applied Surface Science, 258 (2012) 6069-6074.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.03.004

[7] B. Abdallah, A K Jazmati and M. Kakhia, Physical, optical and sensing properties of sprayed zinc doped tin oxide films,Optik, 158 (2018) 1113-1122.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2018.01.008

[8] A. Benhaoua, A. Rahal, B. Benhaoua, M. Jalaci, Effect of fluorine doping on the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2 thin films prepared by Spray Ultrasonic, Superlattices and Microstructures, 70 (2014) 61-69.

DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2014.02.005

[9] B.L. Zhu, X. Zhao, W.C. Hu, T.T. Li, J. Wu, Z.H. Gan, J. Liu, D.W. Zeng, C.S. Xie, Structural, electrical, and optical properties of F-doped SnO or SnO2 films prepared by RF reactive magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures and O2 fluxes, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 719 (2017) 429-437.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.05.193

[10] Supriyono, H. Surahmana, Y.K. Krisnandia, and J. Gunlazuardi, Preparation and characterization of transparent conductive SnO2-F thin film deposited by spray pyrolysis: relationship between loading level and some physical properties, Procedia Environmental Sciences, 28 ( 2015 ) 242-251.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.031

[11] V. Bilgin, I. Akyuz, E. Ketenci, S. Kose, F. Atay, Electrical, structural and surface properties of fluorine doped tin oxide films, Applied Surface Science, 256 (2010) 6586-6591.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.04.052

[12] D. Miao, Q. Zhao, Sh. Wu, Zh. Wang, X. Zhang, X. Zhao, Effect of substrate temperature on the crystal growth orientation of SnO2: F thin films spray-deposited on glass substrates, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 356 (2010) 2557-2561.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2010.06.076

[13] M. Parthibavarman, B. Renganathan, D. Sastikumar, Development of high sensitivity ethanol gas sensor based on Co-doped SnO2 nanoparticles by microwave irradiation technique, Current Applied Physics,13 (2013) 1537-1544.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cap.2013.05.016

[14] M. Gaidi, A. Hajjaji, R. Smirani, B. Bessais and M.A. El Khakani, Structure and photoluminescence of ultrathin films of SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized by means of pulsed laser deposition, Journal of applied physics, 108 (2010) 063537.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3485811

[15] Z. Y. Banyamin, P. J. Kelly, G. West and J. Boardman, Electrical and Optical Properties of Fluorine doped Tin Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering, Coatings, 4 (2014) 732-746.

DOI: 10.3390/coatings4040732

[16] W. Ben Haj Othmen, Z. Ben Hamed, B. Sieber, A. Addad, H. Elhouichet, R. Boukherroub, Structural and optical characterization of p-type highly Fe-doped SnO2 thin films and tunneling transport on SnO2:Fe/p-Si heterojunction, Applied Surface Science, 434 (2018) 879-890.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.11.019

[17] X. Kou, C. Wang, M. Ding, C. Feng, X. Li, J. Ma, H. Zhang, Y. Sun and G. Lu,Synthesis of Co-doped SnO2nanofibers and their enhanced gas-sensing properties,Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 236 (2016) 425-432.

DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2016.06.006

[18] K. Kamli, Z. Hadef, B. Chouial, B. Zaidi, B. Hadjoudja and A. Chibani, Synthesis and characterisation of tin sulphide thin films, Surface Engineering, 33 (2017) 567-572.

DOI: 10.1080/02670844.2016.1271593

[19] M. Ajili, M. Castagné, N. KamounTurki, Spray solution flow rate effect on growth, optoelectronic characteristics and photoluminescence of SnO2: F thin films for photovoltaic application, Optic, 126 (2015) 708-714.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2015.02.039

[20] S. Abbas, A. Ben Haoua, B. Ben Haoua And A. Rahal, Optical and Structural Characterization of Fluorine-Doped SnO2 Thin Films Prepared by Spray Ultrasonic, Journal of New Technology and Materials, 04 (2014)106-111.

DOI: 10.12816/0010312

[21] A.E. Hassanien, H.M. Hashem, G. Kamel, S. Soltan, A.M. Moustafa, M. Hammam and A.A. Ramadan, Performance of Transparent Conducting Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Films for Applications in Energy Efficient Devices, International Journal of Thin Films Science and Technology, 5 (2016) 55-65.

[22] A. Abdelkrim, S. Rahmane, O. Abdelouahab, N. Abdelmalek, G. Brahim, Effect of solution concentration on the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis, Optic, 127 (2016) 2653-2658.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2015.11.232

[23] M. Girtan, G.I. Rusu, S. Gurlui, Influence of oxidation conditions on the properties of indium oxide thin films, Applied Surface Science, 2 (2000) 492-498.

DOI: 10.1016/s0169-4332(00)00238-5

[24] M.M. Bagheri-Mohagheghi, N. Shahtahmasebi, M.R. Alinejad, A. Youssefi, M. Shokooh-Saremi, Fe-doped SnO2  transparent semi-conducting thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique: Thermoelectric and p-type conductivity properties, Solid State Science, 11 (2009) 233-239.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2008.05.005

[25] M. Ajili, M. Castagné, N.K. Turki, Study on the doping effect of Sn-doped ZnO thin films, SuperlatticeMicrost, 53 (2013) 213-222.

DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2012.10.012

[26] Supriyono, H. Surahmana, Y. K. Krisnandi, and J. Gunlazuardi, Preparation and characterization of transparent conductive SnO2-F thin film deposited by spray pyrolysis: relationship between loading level and some physical properties, Procedia Environmental Sciences, 28 (2015) 242-251.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.031

[27] A. Jrad, T. Ben Nasr, N. Turki-Kamoun, Study of structural, optical and photoluminescence properties of indium-doped zinc sulfide thin films for optoelectronic applications, Optical Materials, 50 (2015) 128-133.

DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2015.10.011

[28] M. Reghima, A. Akkari, C. Guasch, and N. Kamoun-Turki, Structural, Optical, and Electrical Properties of SnS:Ag Thin Films, Journal of Electronic Materials, 44 (2015) 4392-4399.

DOI: 10.1007/s11664-015-3971-6

[29] J. Mazloom, F.E. Ghodsi, Spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrical characterization of nanostructured SnO2: Co thin films prepared by sol-gel spin coating technique, Materials Research Bulletin, 48 (2013) 1468-1476.

DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.12.069

[30] A. Jrad, T. Ben Nasr, N. Turki-Kamoun, Effects of Al content on physical properties of ZnS thin films prepared by chemical bath deposition, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 26 (2015) 8854-8862.

DOI: 10.1007/s10854-015-3566-2

[31] B.Benhaoua, S. Abbas, A. Rahal, A. Benhaoua, M.S. Aida, Effect of film thickness on the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2: F thin films prepared by spray ultrasonic for solar cells applications, Superlattices and Microstructures, 83 (2015) 78-88.

DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2015.03.017

[32] N. Beji, M. Souli, M. Ajili, S. Azzaza,S. Alleg,N. Kamoun Turki, Effect of iron doping on structural, optical and electrical properties of sprayed In2O3 thin films, Superlattices Microstructures, 128 (2015) 81-114.

DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2015.01.015

[33] A. Abdelkrim, S. Rahmane, O. Abdelouahab, N. Abdelmalek, G. Brahim, Effect of solution concentration on the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis, Optic, 127 (2016) 2653-2658.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2015.11.232

[34] F. Urbach, Physical Review, 92 (1953) 1324.

[35] M. Yilmaz, A Function of External Doping: Characteristics of Inorganic Nanostructure Based Diode, Ceramics International, 45 (2018) 665-673.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.09.226

[36] S. Bansal, D.K. Pandya, S.C. Kashyap, D. Haranath, Growth ambient dependence of defects, structural disorder and photoluminescence in SnO2 films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, J. Alloys Compd, 583 (2014) 186-190.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.08.135

[37] K. Thirumurugan, K. Ravichandran, R. Mohan, S. Snega, S. Jothiramalingam, R. Chandramohan, Effect of solvent volume on properties of SnO2:Al films, Surface Engineering, 29 (2013) 373-378.

DOI: 10.1179/1743294412y.0000000110

[38] L. Dua, P.K. Biswas, Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured Mn(II) doped antimony-tin oxide (ATO) films on glass, Appl. Surf. Sci, 280 (2013) 33-41.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.04.066

[39] M. Fang, L. Zhang, X. Tan, X. Hu, W. Yan, P. Liu, Fabrication and photoluminescence property of SnO2 microtowers with interstitial tin ions, J. Phys. Chem. C, 113 (2009) 9676-9680.

DOI: 10.1021/jp902362k

[40] M. Ajili, M. Castagné, N. Kamoun Turki, Characteristics of CuIn1xGaxS2 thin films synthesized by chemical spray pyrolysis, Journal of Luminescence,150 (2014) 1-7.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2013.12.059