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Preparation of Sb:SnO2 thin films and its effect on opto-electrical properties

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Abstract

The present study focuses on pure and antimony (Sb)-doped tin oxide thin film and its influence on their structural, optical, and electrical properties. Both undoped and Sb-doped SnO2 thin films have been grown by using simple, inexpensive pyrolysis spray technique. The deposition temperature was optimized to 450 °C. X-ray diffractions pattern have revealed that the films are polycrystalline and have tetragonal rutile-type crystal structure. Undoped SnO2 films grow along (110) preferred orientation, while the Sb-doped SnO2 films grow along (200) direction. The size of Sb-doped tin oxide crystals changes from 26.3 to 58.0 nm when dopant concentration is changed from 5 to 25 wt%. The transmission spectra revealed that all the samples are transparent in the visible region, and the optical bandgap varies between 3.92 and 3.98 eV. SEM analysis shows that the surface morphology and grain size are affected by the doping rate. All the films exhibit a high transmittance in the visible region and show a sharp fundamental absorption edge at about 0.38–0.40 nm. The maximum electrical conductivity of 362.5 S/cm was obtained for the film doped with 5 wt% Sb. However, the carrier concentration is increased from 0.708 × 1018 to 4.058 × 1020 cm3. The electrical study reveals that the films have n-type electrical conductivity and depend on Sb concentration. We observed a decrease in sheet resistance and resistivity with the increase in Sb dopant concentration. For the dopant concentration of 5 wt% of Sb in SnO2, the Rs and ρ were found minimum with the values of 88.55 (Ω cm−2) and 2.75 (Ω cm), respectively. We observed an increase in carrier concentration and a decrease in mobility with the addition of Sb up to 25 wt%. The highest figure of merit values 2.5 × 10–3 Ω−1 is obtained for the 5wt% Sb, which may be considered potential materials for solar cells' transparent windows.

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The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project Number (PNURSP2022R19), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also, the author Dr Abualnaja appreciated Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number (TURSP-2020/267), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This research was funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project Number (PNURSP2022R19), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also, the author Dr Abualnaja appreciated Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number (TURSP-2020/267), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Active Components and Materials, University of Oum El Bouaghi, 04000, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria

    Khaoula Derrar, Mourad Zaabat & Nouhad Rouabah

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 721302, India

    Roshan Nazir

  3. Applied and Theoretical Physics Laboratory, University Larbi Tebessi - Tebessa, 12002, Tebessa, Algeria

    Faouzi Hanini & Abdelkader Hafdallah

  4. Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Sher Afghan Khan

  5. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia

    Norah Salem Alsaiari & Khadijah Mohammedsaleh Katubi

  6. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Khamael M. Abualnaja

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  1. Khaoula Derrar
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Contributions

K D performed all the experimental work, collected and analyzed the data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. RN Approved the final version of the manuscript. MZ and RN revised the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript. NR, FH, AH, SAK, NSA, KMK, and KMA conceptualized and designed the work.

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Correspondence to Khaoula Derrar or Roshan Nazir.

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Derrar, K., Zaabat, M., Rouabah, N. et al. Preparation of Sb:SnO2 thin films and its effect on opto-electrical properties. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 10142–10153 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-08004-3

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