Enhancement of Electrical Properties on ZnO: Al Thin Film due to Hydrogen Annealing and SiO2 Coating in Damp-heat Environment

The electrical stability of ZnO: Al thin films deposited on glass substrate by the RF magnetron sputtering method have been modified by a hydrogen annealing treatment and $SiO_2$ protection layer. AZO thin films were deposited at room temperature and different RF powers of 50, 100, 150, and 200 W to optimize the AZO film growth condition. The lowest value of resistivity of $9.44{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}cm$ was obtained at 2 mtorr, room temperature, and a power level of 150 W. Then, the AZO thin films were annealed at $250-400^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in hydrogen ambient. The minimum resistivity obtained was $8.32{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}cm$ as-annealed at $300^{\circ}C$. The electrical properties were enhanced by the hydrogen annealing treatment. After a 72 h damp-heat treatment in harsh conditions of a water steam at $110^{\circ}C$ for four representative samples, a degradation of electrical properties was observed. The sample of hydrogen-annealed AZO thin films with $SiO_2$ protection layer showed a slight degradation ratio(17%) of electrical properties and a preferable transmittance of 90%. The electrical stability of AZO thin films had been modified by hydrogen annealing treatment and $SiO_2$ protection layer.