title: Deposition of controlled thickness ultrathin SnO2:Sb films by spin-coating.
abstract: The technological interest in transparent conductive oxide films (TCOs) has motivated several works in processing techniques, in order to obtain adequate routes to application. In this way, this work describes a new route to obtain antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) films, based in colloidal dispersions of oxide nanocrystals. The nanoparticles were obtained by a hydrolisis method, using SnCl2 and SbCl3 in ethanolic solutions. The residual halides were removed by dyalisis, obtaining a limpid and transparent colloidal suspension. By this, the method offers the advantage of producing ultrathin films without organic contaminants. This route was employed to produce films with 5, 10, 14, and 18 mol% Sb doping, with thickness ranging from 40 to 70 nm. The physical characterization of the samples showed a uniform layer deposition, resulting in good packing density and high transmittance. A preliminar electrical study confirmed the low electrical resistivity even in the ultrathin films, in such level similar of reported data. The method described is similar in some aspects to layer-by-layer (LbL) techniques, allowing fine control of thickness and interesting properties for ultrathin films, however, with low cost when compared to similar routes.
authors.affiliation: CMDMC/LIEC/ Departamento de Química, UFSCar - Av. Washington Luiz, km 235, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP-Brazil.
authors.forename: Tania R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Giraldi
authors.forename: Cauê
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Marcia T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Escote
authors.forename: Tiago G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Adenilson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chiquito
authors.forename: Edson R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Elson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Varela
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000737:chemistry*; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D012399:Rotation; D013499:Surface Properties; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D017971:Tin Compounds; D000965:Antimony; C045358:stannic oxide