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Effects of changes on temperature and fluorine concentration in the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2:F thin films

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Thin films of SnO2:F (FTO) were deposited on glass substrates using the spray pyrolysis technique. Tin dichloride (SnCl2·2H2O) was used as a precursor in the starting solution. The first group of samples was prepared adding ammonium fluoride (NH4F) to the previous mixture in different amounts with respect to tin weight concentration (F/Sn = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) and deposited at 475 °C. The second group of films was deposited at different temperatures, from T = 475 to 550 °C with a step of ΔT = 25 °C and F/Sn = 0.15 wt. The fluorine and deposition temperature dependencies cause notable changes in the FTO system. The effects on the structure (phase, crystallite size, and microstrain) were investigated using X-ray diffraction associated with Rietveld refinement. The optical properties were studied using the UV–Visible spectrum, and it was fit using the Drude–Lorentz classical dispersion model. The electrical measurements were obtained by four-point Van der Pauw technique. Also, electrical parameters calculated through the Drude contribution, such as resistivity and mobility, were compared with those found in Hall–effect measurements. The FTO with the best figure of merit was integrated as a transparent electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by Col-11-014 SENACyT Grant, Panama. In addition, thanks to the National Research System of Panama (SNI) for supporting the first author and the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Technology, Technological University of Panama, Panama, Panama

    H. Miranda, Elida De Obaldía & E. Ching-Prado

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico

    S. Velumani

  3. ICE-UPF, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil

    C. A. Samudio Pérez

  4. DCET-URI, Santo Angelo, RS, Brazil

    J. C. Krause

  5. Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

    Francis D’ Souza

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  1. H. Miranda
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Miranda, H., Velumani, S., Pérez, C.A.S. et al. Effects of changes on temperature and fluorine concentration in the structural, optical and electrical properties of SnO2:F thin films. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 15563–15581 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01933-6

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