Characterization of transparent Sb-doped conducting films by XPS analysis

In the fabrication process of transparent conducting thin films of the ATO (antimony-doped tin oxide) on a soda lime glass substrate by a sol-gel dip coating method, the effects of the $SiO_2$ buffer layer formed on the substrate and $N_2$ annealing treatment were investigated by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analysis. Optical transmittance and electrical resistivity of the 400 nm-thick ATO thin films which were deposited on $SiO_2$ buffer layer/soda lime glass and then annealed under nitrogen atmosphere were 84 % and $5.0\times 10^{-3}\Omega \textrm{cm}$ respectively. The XPS analysis confirmed that a $SiO_2$ buffer layer inhibited Na ion diffusion from the substrate, resulting in prohibiting the formation of a secondary phase such as $Na_2SnO_3$ and SnO and increasing Sb ion concentration and ratio of $Sb^{5+}/Sb^{3+}$ in the film. And it was also found that $N_2$ annealing treatment leads to the reduction of $Sn^{4+}$as well as $Sb^{5+}$ however the reduction of $Sn^{4+}$ is more effective and therefore consequently results in decrease in the electrical resistivity to produce an excellent electrical properties of the film.

XPS를 이용한 Sb-doped 투명전도막의 특성 분석

Sol-gel dip coating법으로 soda lime glass 기판 위에 ATO(antimony-doped tin oxide) 투명전도막을 제조할 때, 기판 위에 형성된 $SiO_2$ barrier 층 및 $N_2$ gas annealing 에 따른 광투과율 및 전기적 특성에 대한 효과를 정량적으로 측정하고, XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) 분석을 통해 고찰하였다. $SiO_2$ barrier층을 갖는 glass 기판 위에 코팅된400 nm 두께의 ATO 박막을 질소분위기에서 annealing한 결과, 광 투과율은 84%그리고 전기저항은 약 $5.0\times 10^{-3}\Omega \textrm{cm}$로 측정되었다 XPS 분석결과 이러한 우수한 전기전도성은 $SiO_2$ buffer층이 glass 기판으로부터 Na 이온의 확산을 막아 ATO막 내에 $Na_2SnO_3$ 및 SnO와 같은 2차상 불순물의 형성을 억제하여 막 내부의 Sb의 농도 및 $Sb^{5+}/Sb^{3+}$ 비를 증가시키고, $N_2$ annealing은 $Sb^{5+}$ 도 환원시키지만 $Sn^{4+}$를 환원시키는 효과가 크게 작용하였기 때문으로 사료된다.