Conducting Al and Ga-doped zinc oxides; rapid optimisation and scale-up. Issue 33 (1st August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, D. P.; Marchand, P.; Johnson, I. D.; Carmalt, C. J.; Parkin, I. P.; Darr, J. A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 33(2016)
• Page Start: 12774
• Page End: 12780
• Publication Date: 2016-08-01
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta03364d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A high-throughput continuous hydrothermal flow method for optimisation of TCO nanomaterials was utilised for the synthesis of aluminium and gallium doped zinc oxides as more sustainable alternatives to indium tin oxide. Rates of production of up to 8 kg per day were achieved. Abstract : A high-throughput synthesis, screening and subsequent scale-up approach was utilised for the optimisation of conductive aluminium and gallium-doped zinc oxide (AZO and GZO, respectively) nanoparticles. AZO and GZO nanoparticles with up to 6 at% dopant (with respect to Zn) were directly synthesised using a laboratory scale continuous hydrothermal process at a rate of 60 g per hour. The resistivities were determined by Hall effect measurements on pressed, heat-treated discs. Both Al- and Ga-doping yielded resistivities of the order of 1 × 10 −2 Ω cm for most samples; the lowest resistivity of AZO was 7.0 × 10 −3 Ω cm (at 2.5 at% Al doping), and the lowest resistivity of GZO was 9.1 × 10 −3 Ω cm (at 3.5 at% Ga doping), which are considered exceptionally conductive for pressed nanopowders. Synthesis of the optimised lab-scale compositions was scaled-up using a pilot-scale continuous hydrothermal process at a production rate of 8 kg per day (by dry mass); results obtained from these nanopowders generally retained resistivity trends observed for the lab-scale analogues.