Can some one please advice on the best cleaning procedures for ITO substrates for organic/polymer solar cell applications? Is this going to determine the overall performance parameters of the cell? Currently, we are cleaning ITO substrates by sonicating in Acetone, Methanol and Distilled water, for 5 min each. Sonicating ITO substrates is good for the cell parameters? Further, we are also performing UV/Ozone for about ~ 20 min.
Dear Sai-Anand Gopalan:
Substrate was cleaned by successive sonication in acetone, isopropanol and finally DI water for 10 minutes, respectively and then dried in oven at 105°C for at least 30 min.
Dear Khalifa, thanks for sharing the answer. Do we have to perform UV ozone after thermal treatment ?
Dear Sai-Anand Gopalan,
I think your cleaning method sounds perfect for getting a good substrate for solar cell applications, especially with the use of ozone at the end which I have seen stated on several occasions will increase the work function of ITO, apart from just cleaning it, which should help with charge injection
Dear Purcell-Milton, thanks for the response. Which one is better after substrates cleaning, UV ozone (for ~ 20 min) or plasma treatment?. Will this directly influences/affects the overall cell performance parameters?
Also, we only thermal anneal (150C for 10 min) after ITO substrates cleaning, thermal annealing for prolonged time (Say 20 to 30 min) will enable the substrate more hydrophilic (before UV/Ozone treatment)?
First I think you can use ultrasonic machine. Then, you can use acetone or alcohol to clean the ITO. After dry it, use high pressure N2 to blow off any grains on the ITO.
Dear Gopalan,
Everyone has described the cleaning method in details. In addition you also need to be careful about the environment during the cleaning. It is best to do it in clean room. The time duration between the Plasma treatment and PEDOT coating should also be as low as possible to extract 100% of it.
Dear Solanki, thanks for the response. We only clean ITO substrates in ambient air conditions and perform UV ozone curing for inducing hydrophilicity..
what happen if i cleaning in 30 minutes for each isopropyl and acetone?
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