Structural and morphological properties of ITO thin films grown by magnetron sputtering
الموضوعات : Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics
Z. Ghorannevis
1
(
Department of Physics, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University
)
E. Akbarnejad
2
(
Plasma Physics Research Centre, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University
)
M. Ghoranneviss
3
(
Plasma Physics Research Centre, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University
)
الکلمات المفتاحية: Indium tin oxide, Magnetron sputtering, Thickness,
ملخص المقالة :
AbstractPhysical properties of transparent and conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films grown by radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering are studied systematically by changing deposition time. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate polycrystalline thin films with grain orientations predominantly along the (2 2 2) and (4 0 0) directions. From atomic force microscopy (AFM) it is found that by increasing the deposition time, the roughness of the film increases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show a network of a high-porosity interconnected nanoparticles, which approximately have a pore size ranging between 20 and 30 nm. Optical measurements suggest an average transmission of 80 % for the ITO films. Sheet resistances are investigated using four-point probes, which imply that by increasing the film thickness the resistivities of the films decrease to 2.43 × 10−5 Ω cm.