Skip to main content
Log in

Comparative Study of Structural and Opto-Electric Features of Environment Friendly AlSb Screen Printed and Brush Plated Films

  • ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
  • Published:
Physics of Metals and Metallography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aluminium antimonide (AlSb) films are an applicable material in opto-electronic and photovoltaic devices. In the present work, AlSb films were successfully coated on glass substrate via economical screen-printing and brush plating methods. Structural, optical, and electrical attributes of these films were characterized by XRD, HRSEM, EDAX, UV–Vis spectrophotometery and a two-probe technique. XRD analysis revealed that obtained AlSb films by both methods have (111) plane as favored orientation with cubic phase structure. EDAX analysis revealed the atomic proportion of Al with Sb was ~1 : 1, which is stoichiometric proportion. HRSEM analysis showed that the surface of AlSb films is layered with sphere-shaped and rough crystals. Numerous pores and large size crystals were observed in the brush plated film as compared with AlSb screen printed film. Via UV–Vis analysis AlSb was established as an indirect optical gap material; with optical band gap value of both type films was observed in close agreement to its theoretical value (1.62 eV). Electrical resistivity measurements via a two probe equipment, semiconducting nature for both types of films were found. Activation energy was also calculated by employing Arrhenius plot.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. T. E. Fischer, “Reflectivity, photoelectric emission, and work function of AlSb,” Phys. Rev. 139, A1228–A1233 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrev.139.a1228

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Y. Y. Peter and C. Manuel, Fundamentals of Semiconductors: Physics and Materials Properties, 4th ed., Graduate Texts in Physics (Springer, New York, 2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00710-1

  3. R. Dhakal, Yu. Huh, D. Galipeau, and X. Y, “AlSb compound semiconductor as absorber layer in thin film solar cells,” in Solar Cells New Aspects and Solutions, Ed. by L. A. Kosyachenko (InTech, 2011), pp. 341–356. https://doi.org/10.5772/21375

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. J. J. Wysocki and P. Rappaport, “Effect of temperature on photovoltaic solar energy conversion,” J. Appl. Phys. 31, 571–578 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1735630

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. B. E. McCandless and K. D. Dobson, “Processing options for CdTe thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 839–856 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2004.04.012

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. López-Sánchez, I. Rimmaudo, R. Mis-Fernández, E. Camacho-Espinosa, and J. L. Peña, “Effect of the air humidity on the chlorine treatment for CdTe thin films solar cells,” Sol. Energy 239, 129–138 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.04.063

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. T. Walker, M. Stuckelberger, T. Nietzold, N. Mohan-Kumar, C. Ossig, M. Kahnt, F. Wittwer, B. Lai, D. Salomon, E. Colegrove, and M. Bertoni, “The nanoscale distribution of copper and its influence on charge collection in CdTe solar cells,” Nano Energy 91, 106595 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. G. A. Armantrout and J. H. Yee, “AlSb as a potential photovoltaic material,” in 2nd E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf. (Springer, 1979), pp. 960–967.

  9. H. Song, L. Wu, J. Zheng, L. Feng, Z. Lei, and J. Zhang, “Study on AlSb polycrystalline thin films prepared by vacuum co-evaporation,” Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 25, 1747–1755 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217979211100515

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ya. Feifei, L. Zhi, F. Lianghuan, Z. Jingquan, L. Wei, and W. Lili, “Preparation of AlSb polycrystalline thin films by co-evaporation,” J. Semicond. 27, 1578–1581 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Z. Huang, L.-L. Wu, B. Li, X. Hao, J.-X. He, L.‑H. Feng, W. Li, J.-Q. Zhang, and Ya.-P. Cai, “The electrical, optical properties of AlSb polycrystalline thin films deposited by magnetron co-sputtering without annealing,” Chin. Phys. B 19, 127204 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-1056/19/12/127204

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. W. Chen, L. Feng, Z. Lei, J. Zhang, F. Yao, W. Cai, Ya. Cai, W. Li, L. Wu, B. Li, and J.-G. Zheng, “AlSb thin films prepared by dc magnetron sputtering and annealing,” Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 22, 2275–2283 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217979208039447

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. O. Mann, C. L. Aravinda, and W. Freyland, “Microscopic and electronic structure of semimetallic Sb and semiconducting AlSb fabricated by nanoscale electrodeposition: An in situ scanning probe investigation,” J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 21521–21527 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp064384c

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. K. Yang, B. Li, J. Zhang, W. Li, L. Wu, G. Zeng, W. Wang, C. Liu, and L. Feng, “Structural, optical and electrical properties of AlSb thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition using aluminum-antimony alloying target,” Superlattices Microstruct. 102, 1–6 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2016.12.033

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. S. Das, B. Ghosh, S. Hussain, R. Bhar, and A. K. Pal, “Pulsed laser deposition: A viable route for the growth of aluminum antimonide film,” J. Cryst. Growth 419, 12–19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.02.083

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Singh and R. K. Bedi, “Growth and properties of aluminium antimonide films produced by hot wall epitaxy on single-crystal KCl,” Thin Solid Films 312, 111–115 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0040-6090(97)00715-3

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. W. Zheng, A. Suominen, and A. Tuominen, “Discussion on the challenges of DMFC catalyst loading process for mass production,” Energy Procedia 28, 78–87 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.08.042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. K. R. Murali, A. C. Dhanemozhia, and R. John, “Structural, optical and electrical properties of brush plated ZnSe films,” Chalcogenide Lett. 5, 277–280 (2008).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. R. Xiao, H. Yan, Yi. Pei, B. Li, K. Yang, J. Liu, and X. Liu, “Preparation of AlSb film by screen printing and sintering method,” J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 30, 13290–13296 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01692-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. H. Song, L. Wu, J. Zheng, L. Feng, Z. Lei, and J. Zhang, “Study on AlSb polycrystalline thin films prepared by vacuum co-evaporation,” Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 25, 1747–1755 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217979211100515

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. P. Tang, B. Li, L. Feng, L. Wu, J. Zhang, W. Li, G. Zeng, W. Wang, and C. Liu, “Structural, electrical and optical properties of AlSb thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition,” J. Alloys Compd. 692, 22–25 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.09.016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. R. E. Honig, “Vapor pressure data for the solid and liquid elements,” RCA Rev. 30, 285–305 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. X. Liu, J. Liu, K. Yang, S. He, H. Lu, B. Li, G. Zeng, J. Zhang, W. Li, L. Wu, and L. Feng, “Study on the deliquescence of AlSb/Sb stacks deposited by pulsed laser deposition,” Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 81, 102–107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2018.03.019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. T. Wada, Y. Matsuo, S. Nomura, Y. Nakamura, A. Miyamura, Y. Chiba, A. Yamada, and M. Konagai, “Fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films by a combination of mechanochemical and screen-printing/sintering processes,” Phys. Status Solidi (a) 203, 2593–2597 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.200669652

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. W. Chen, L. Feng, Z. Lei, J. Zhang, F. Yao, W. Cai, Y. Cai, W. Li, L. Wu, B. Li, and J.-G. Zheng, “Alsb Thin Films Prepared by Dc Magnetron Sputtering and Annealing,” Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 22, 2275–2283 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ab9ceb

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. R. S. Khadayate, R. B. Waghulde, M. G. Wankhede, J. V. Sali, and P. P. Patil, “Ethanol vapour sensing properties of screen printed WO3 thick films,” Bull. Mater. Sci. 30, 129–133 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-007-0023-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. V. Kumar, K. Sharma, D. K. Sharma, and V. G. Masih, “Study on mechanically alloyed tin telluride screen-printed films for optoelectronic device applications,” Opt. Quantum Electron. 51, 129 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-019-1843-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. K. Yang, B. Li, J. Zhang, W. Li, L. Wu, G. Zeng, W. Wang, C. Liu, and L. Feng, “Structural, optical and electrical properties of AlSb thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition using aluminum-antimony alloying target,” Superlattices Microstruct. 102, 1–6 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2016.12.033

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thanks to Dr. Amik Garg, Director, ‘KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad’ for their guidance and motivation to carry out this work.

Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sweta Shukla.

Ethics declarations

The authors of this work declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note.

Pleiades Publishing remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sweta Shukla, Sharma, D.K., Gaur, D. et al. Comparative Study of Structural and Opto-Electric Features of Environment Friendly AlSb Screen Printed and Brush Plated Films. Phys. Metals Metallogr. 124, 1351–1356 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X23600720

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X23600720

Keywords:

Navigation