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Solution processed glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide/aluminum-doped zinc oxide double layer thin films for transparent heater and near-infrared reflecting applications

  • Original Paper: Functional coatings, thin films and membranes (including deposition techniques)
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Abstract

Double layer glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) multifunctional thin films were achieved via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method without employing a post-deposition annealing. Transparent heater and near-infrared heat reflection behaviors were investigated. The samples were characterized in terms of their structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties. The top AZO layer exhibited a polycrystalline structure without any preferred orientation. The double layer structure showed very high average transmittance (87%, 400–700 nm) in the visible and reflectance (55%, 2500 nm) in the near-infrared, regions. In addition, the sheet resistance and resistivity of the film were measured as 14.85 (Ω sq−1) and 1.78 × 10−3 (Ω cm), respectively. The saturation temperature, response time, surface temperature uniformity, areal power density, and thermal resistance values were found to be 111 °C, 174 s, 11.42%, 0.299 W/cm2, and 282.8 °C cm2 W−1 for a sample with an active area of 31.5 cm2 and input voltage of 9 V. In addition, dry-ice cooled samples (−25 °C) showed impressive deicing performance depending on the input power. In case of 12 V, all ice was defrosted, and water droplets were evaporated within 2 min and 10 s. During this process, a heating rate of ⁓43 °C/min was achieved.

Highlights

  • Glass/FTO/AZO double layer thin films were achieved using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis.

  • No post-deposition annealing was applied.

  • Relatively large area transparent heater and near-infrared heat reflecting mirror was produced.

  • 55% reflectance at 2500 nm and deicing in 130 s with low voltage was demonstrated.

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Acknowledgements

This study was produced from the MSc thesis of Beyza TÖNBÜL and supported financially by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK; Project Number: 118M013), for which the authors are thankful. We would also like to thank to İ. Cihan KAYA and Volkan KALEM for their help in solving some technical issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Konya Technical University, Konya, Turkey

    Beyza Tönbül & Hasan Akyıldız

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

    Hilal A. Can & Tayfur Öztürk

  3. Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Development, Application and Research Center, Konya Technical University, Konya, Turkey

    Hasan Akyıldız

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  1. Beyza Tönbül
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Tönbül, B., Can, H.A., Öztürk, T. et al. Solution processed glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide/aluminum-doped zinc oxide double layer thin films for transparent heater and near-infrared reflecting applications. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 99, 482–496 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-021-05591-1

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