Effect of Annealing Temperature on Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Spin Coated Tin Oxide Thin Films for Solar Cells Application

Authors

OluwaseunAdedokun, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.\\ Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.Follow
Victoria Mofoluke Odebunmi, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.\\ Department of Physics, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria.Follow
Yekinni Kolawole Sanusi, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.\\ Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.Follow

Abstract

Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) thin films are materials of significance for their applications in optoelectronics and sun powered cells. This paper reports the impact of annealing temperature on structural, optical and electrical properties of tin oxide (SnO2) thin films for solar cells application. The sol-gel was prepared from anhydrous stannous chloride, SnCl2 as precursor, 2-methoxyethanol as a solvent and di-ethanolamine as stabilizer. The thin film was deposited on glass substrates by means of spin coater at the rate of 2000rpm for 40 seconds. After pre-heated at 200oC, the samples were annealed at 300, 400, 500 and 600oC for 2 hours respectively. The structural, optical and electrical characteristics of prepared films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy and electrical measurement. X-ray diffraction pattern shows polycrystalline tetragonal-cassiterite structure with most extraordinary pinnacle having a grain size of 17.01nm. Annealing temperature increases the grain size. There is increment in the absorption of photon energy of the film as the annealing temperature decreases with increasing wavelength and the transmittance was basically increases with increasing annealing temperature as the wavelength increases. The energy band gaps were in the range of 4.116 to 4.106 eV. The sheet resistance was observed to decrease as the annealing temperature increases. In view of these outcomes, SnO2 thin films prepared could have useful application in transparent conducting oxide electrode in solar cell.

Recommended Citation

OluwaseunAdedokun; Mofoluke Odebunmi, Victoria; and Kolawole Sanusi, Yekinni (2019) "Effect of Annealing Temperature on Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Spin Coated Tin Oxide Thin Films for Solar Cells Application," International Journal of Thin Film Science and Technology: Vol. 8 : Iss. 3 , PP -.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/ijtfst/vol8/iss3/8