eprintid: 10041886
rev_number: 45
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/10/04/18/86
datestamp: 2018-03-08 08:57:08
lastmod: 2021-10-15 23:11:31
status_changed: 2018-03-08 08:57:08
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Potter, Dominic
title: Zinc-Based Thin Films for Transparent Conducting Oxide Applications
ispublished: unpub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C06
divisions: F56
abstract: This thesis describes the synthesis of zinc-based transparent conducting oxide (TCO) thin films, as sustainable alternatives to commercial TCOs. There are two main aims to this work. The first is the discovery of suitable TCO materials, which involves finding the optimum optoelectronic properties for applications in photovoltaic devices. The second aim is investigating the scale up of aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD), which is the technique used to deposit the majority of the films in this work. The films deposited in this work were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to find the crystal structures, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to find the elemental compositions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyse the surface morphologies, UV/vis spectroscopy to find the optical properties, and by Hall effect measurements to find the electrical properties. Aluminium, gallium, indium, silicon, and fluorine have been examined as dopants for ZnO, in various combinations, and at different concentrations. The films were generally found to have high transparency, and electrical properties that approached those of industrial TCO materials. The merits of the films are particularly promising, when considering the relative ease through which the films were synthesised. Additionally, the effect of varying the solvent used to make up the precursor solution is investigated. The deposition of ZnSb2O6 thin films via spin coating is also discussed. This thesis also details an investigation into the scale-up of AACVD. An aerosol transport study was performed, whereby the aerosol was transported prior to deposition. It was found that a considerable amount of aerosol was condensing within the tubing, prior to reaching the reactor. Additionally, increasing the film growth rates was investigated by depositing FTO films using high concentrations in the precursor solution. Growth rates of approximately 2 μm min-1 were achieved, making the use of AACVD for commercial applications significantly more feasible.
date: 2018-01-28
date_type: published
oa_status: green
full_text_type: other
thesis_class: doctoral_open
thesis_award: Ph.D
language: eng
thesis_view: UCL_Thesis
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1527755
language_elements: English
lyricists_name: Carmalt, Claire
lyricists_name: Potter, Dominic
lyricists_id: CJCAR00
lyricists_id: DBPOT46
actors_name: Potter, Dominic
actors_name: Zahnhausen-Stuber, Petra
actors_id: DBPOT46
actors_id: PMZAH20
actors_role: owner
actors_role: impersonator
full_text_status: public
pages: 215
event_title: UCL
institution: UCL (University College London)
department: Chemistry
thesis_type: Doctoral
editors_name: Carmalt, C
editors_name: Parkin, I
citation:        Potter, Dominic;      (2018)    Zinc-Based Thin Films for Transparent Conducting Oxide Applications.                   Doctoral thesis  (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).     Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10041886/1/ClassicThesis.pdf