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Thin‐film polyimide/indium tin oxide composites for photovoltaic applications
Author(s) -
Lozano Angel E.,
Abajo Javier de,
de la Campa José G.,
Guillén Cecilia,
Herrero José,
Gutiérrez María Teresa
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.24470
Subject(s) - materials science , polyimide , indium tin oxide , annealing (glass) , composite material , fabrication , indium , polymer , electrical conductor , thin film , oxide , layer (electronics) , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , metallurgy , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Soluble polyimides were prepared from suitable monomers and were evaluated for their thermal and mechanical properties. The polymers were processed into films for use as supports for transparent, conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) layers. After deposition, annealing in vacuo at temperatures up to 400°C was performed to test the ability of the materials to endure typical device fabrication temperatures without damage to the ITO‐coated polymeric substrate. The evolution of the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics with the annealing temperature was analyzed and compared with that of polymeric and conventional glass substrates as references. Polyimide 6F6F, synthesized from hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic dianhydride and hexafluoroisopropylidene dianiline, had optimal characteristics for photovoltaic applications, permitting the achievement of conductive, ITO‐coated samples with optical transmission greater than 75% in the visible and near‐infrared wavelength ranges, without significant deterioration of their properties after vacuum annealing at temperatures up to 350°C. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3491–3497, 2007