Wide-range infrared transparency of hydrated magnesium-carbon films with high mobility for enhanced conductivity

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology 2019-05, Vol.365, p.70-75
• Main Authors: Guo, Shuai, Yang, Lei, Dai, Bing, Geng, Fangjuan, Yang, Zhenhuai, Wang, Peng, Gao, Gang, Lei, Pei, Han, Jiecai, Ralchenko, Victor, Zhu, Jiaqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bond energy; Carbon; Carrier density; Charged particles; Crystallization; Electrical properties; Electrical resistivity; Electron mobility; Grain growth; Hydrated magnesium-carbon films; Infrared transparent conductive films; Magnesium; Magnetron sputtering; Optical properties; Resistance; Semiconductors; Substrates; Transmittance; Visible spectrum
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2018.04.048

The hydrated magnesium-carbon films fabricated in this study demonstrated that grain growth and crystallinity modification by substrate temperature treatment crystallization produce films with fewer internal imperfections. This results in high mobility of the solution-deposited hydrated magnesium-carbon electrical conductance, with a corresponding dramatic harmonious transmittance in the infrared range. An investigation of the hydrated magnesium-carbon films shows that the temperature treatment dramatically improves the electron mobility and decreases the carrier concentration, which in turn simultaneously increases the conductivity and transparency. The hydrated magnesium-carbon films exhibit a mobility of up to 85.2 cm2/(V·s) and the resistivity declines rapidly to 1.72 × 10−2 Ω·cm. The transmittance of the visible spectrum increased to 90%. Although the conductivity of hydrated magnesium-carbon films is not prominent comparing to the conventional and widely-used n-type TCO materials, e.g. ITO, the films also showed excellent optical properties, which can be attributed to their low bond energy, with the infrared transmittance of the films being greater than 70% for a plasma wavelength of approximately 10 μm. [Display omitted] •The hydrated magnesium-carbon films are the non-oxide-type transparent electronic material.•The plasma wavelength of hydrated magnesium-carbon films was approximate 10 μm.•Discussed the effects of the carrier concentration and mobility on the photoelectrical properties.•Studied on effects of the substrate temperature on the photoelectrical properties.