Polycrystalline SnO sub(2) thin films grown at different substrate temperature by pneumatic spray

This article presents the elaboration of tin oxide (SnO sub(2)) thin films on glass substrates by using a home-made spray pyrolysis system. Effects of substrate temperature on structural, optical, and electrical film properties are investigated. The films are characterized by several techniques such as EDS, DRX, UV-visible transmission and four-probe point measurements, and the results suggest that the prepared films are uniform and well adherent to the substrates. Films thicknesses estimated by gravimetric method were between 1000 and 490 nm. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that SnO sub(2) films were polycrystalline with cassiterite tetragonal crystal structure, having a preferential orientation along the (110) plane. Optical transmittance spectra of the films showed high transparency average transmittance greater than 75% in the visible region. The optical gap of SnO sub(2) thin films are found to be in a range of 3.33-3.96 eV. The measured electrical conductivity at room temperature was found in the order of 10 super(2) ( Omega cm) super(-1). Moreover, figure of merit for SnO sub(2) thin films revealed maximum value about 1.48 10 super(-3) ( Omega super(-1)) at lambda = 850 nm.