TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDES BASED ON NON-DEFICIT MATERIALS

Background. Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are an important class of materials widely used in modern technologies, including solar cells, displays, and touch devices. However, the traditionally used tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) faces a number of problems, such as high cost, limited indium reserves, and environmental risks of its mining. In this regard, an urgent task is to search for alternative materials with similar characteristics, but at the same time more accessible and environmentally friendly. The purpose of this study is to develop and study alternative TCOs based onabundant and affordable materials, such as zinc oxide (AZO) and tin oxide (FTO), obtained by spray pyrolysis. Materials and methods. Spray pyrolysis was used to synthesize TCOs, which allows the formation of thin films with high homogeneity and good performance characteristics. Solutions of metal salts, such as zinc, tin, and aluminum acetates and nitrates, were used as precursors. The substrate temperature was varied from 300 to 500 °C to optimize the crystalline structure of the films. Results. The obtained AZO (aluminum-doped zinc oxide) coatings showed high transparency (> 90 %) in the visible range, specific resistance of ~10⁻3 Ω cm, stability at temperatures up to 450 °C.; FTO (fluorinedoped tin dioxide) – transparency of ~80 %, specific resistance of ~10⁻3–10⁻2 Ω cm, high thermal stability (up to 600 °C). Alternative materials demonstrated comparable optical properties with ITO (indium oxide doped with tin), while AZO showed lower cost and environmental safety, and FTO – better thermal stability. Conclusion. The study confirmed the possibility of using AZO and FTO as alternative TPOs with acceptable electrical and optical characteristics. AZO has demonstrated high transparency and low resistivity, making it a promising material for flexible electronics. FTO has demonstrated high thermal stability, making it a preferred choice for solar cells and other energy-efficient technologies. The use of these materials will reduce dependence on indium, reduce environmental impact, and ensure sustainable development of technologies.