Single crystal ZnO:Al nanoparticles directly synthesized using low-pressure spray pyrolysis

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticles powder were prepared using low-pressure spray pyrolysis (LPSP). AZO nanoparticles sized 16 and 20 nm with nearly spherical shapes and a crystal size of I I and 15 nm were yielded using zinc acetate precursor at a low-pressure of 8.0 kPa with a pyrolysis temperature of 800 and 1000 C. The thin films were deposited using a dip-coating method derived from the as-prepared AZO nanoparticles. The thin films that were heated for 1.5 h showed a transmittance higher than 97% in the wavelength range of 400-800 nm and a resistivity of 4.0 x 103 ohm cm with a film thickness of 250 nm. The high crystallinity and high transmittance of AZO nanoparticles that are directly synthesized using the LPSP process have potential for applications as transparent conducting material. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.