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# Electro-mechanical behaviour of indium tin oxide coated polymer substrates for flexible electronics

Potoczny, Grzegorz A. (2012)
Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham.

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## Abstract

Highly conductive (3.0 - 5.0 x 10 $$^{-4}$$ $$\Omega$$ cm) and transparent (80 – 85% ) ITO films were successfully fabricated on glass and polymer substrates (PET, PEN and PC) by pulsed laser deposition at low temperatures (24 – 150 °C). The influence of deposition conditions on the structural and physical properties of ITO-coated glass substrates was studied. The samples were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), the fourpoint probe and a spectrophotometer. Sol-gel derived ITO films dip-coated on glass substrates were also studied. The optimum film obtained at a firing temperature of 600 °C had a resistivity of 1.8 x 10 $$^{-2}$$ $$\Omega$$ cm, and optical transmittance of 80%. The electro-mechanical behaviour of ITO/polymer systems was investigated under uniaxial tension and controlled buckling in tension and compression. The resistance changes were monitored in situ. Cracking and buckling delamination failure modes were observed for all samples investigated at critical strains raging from 2.8 to 3.4%, and from 7.0 to 8.0%, respectively. The results showed that the dominant critical failure mode depends on the applied stress conditions. The ITO/PEN samples showed high flexibility; the samples were buckled in tension down to a 2.6 mm radius of curvature before cracks start to occur.

Type of Work: Ph.D. thesis. Kukureka, Stephen N. and Abell, Stuart Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences School of Metallurgy and Materials TN Mining engineering. MetallurgyTP Chemical technologyTS Manufactures University of Birmingham 3475
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