Exploration of the influence of structural properties of tailored AZO nanocrystals in the synthesis and processing of functional thin films

晶体n型半导体掺铝氧化锌（AZO）具有电阻低、机械稳定性好、可见光谱透明度高等特点，在半导体技术领域具有很高的应用潜力。在这里，AZO将被视为以前以液体分散形式使用的铟基氧化物（即所谓的透明导电氧化物（TCO））的有吸引力的替代品，用于薄膜太阳能电池、发光二极管或可印刷电子产品的应用领域。通过AG的Nirschl和Garnweitner之间的合作，这个联合项目旨在全面了解使用高质量的AZO纳米晶体生产颗粒薄膜的过程，这些纳米晶体具有定制的晶体形状和尺寸，并使用定义的Al掺杂来设置特定的应用性能。在这里，通过连接子过程，提供了整个过程的整体视图：“生产->稳定->涂层”。在第一个资助期内，参与研究小组之间的密切合作提供了对通过苄胺和苄醇途径合成AZO纳米晶体过程中正在进行的颗粒形成和生长过程的全面了解。AG Garnweitner详细研究了苯甲醇路线及其影响参数，AG Nirschl通过SAXS分析建立了一种生长模型，用于描述苯胺路线上球形AZO晶体颗粒过程的时间分辨描述。两种AGs的分析重点是x射线散射方法，该方法提供了纳米范围（<100 nm）内随时间变化的生长和稳定过程的重要信息。两位申请者能够通过选择各自合成路线的工艺控制来生成确定的AZO晶体形状和尺寸，这将在项目的进一步过程中显著影响颗粒层性能以及AZO薄膜的最终应用性能。提交的第二个资助期申请的目标是将第一个资助期有关AZO纳米晶体生长和形成过程的两个AGs的发现通过两种合成路线转移到随后的工艺步骤（稳定->涂层），并使用x射线散射粒子将其连接在一起，以便考虑整个工艺链直至AZO改性薄膜太阳能电池和有机发光的生产具有可调应用特性的二极管将成为可能。

The crystalline n-type semiconductor aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) has a high application potential in the field of semiconductor technology because of its specific properties, e.g. its low electrical resistance, its good mechanical stability and its high transparency in the visible spectral range. Here, AZO will be seen as an attractive alternative to previously used indium-based oxides in the form of liquid dispersions - as so-called transparent conductive oxide (TCO) - in the application areas of thin-film solar cells, light-emitting diodes or in printable electronics. Through collaboration between the AG's Nirschl and Garnweitner, this joint project aims to gain a comprehensive process understanding of the production of particulate thin films using high-quality AZO nanocrystals with tailored crystal shapes and sizes and a defined Al doping to set specific application properties. Here, a holistic view of the overall process by linking the sub-processes: "Production-->Stabilization-->Coating" is provided.During the first funding period, a close cooperation between the participating research groups provided a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing particle formation and growth processes of AZO nanocrystals during their synthesis via the benzyl amine and benzyl alcohol routes. The AG Garnweitner dealt in detail with the benzyl alcohol route and its influence parameters, while the AG Nirschl developed a growth model for the time-resolved description of particulate processes of spherical AZO crystals on the benzyl amine route by means of SAXS analysis. The analysis focus of both AGs was the X-ray scattering method, which provided important information about time-dependent growth and stabilization processes in the nanometer range (<100 nm). The two applicants were able to generate defined crystal shapes and sizes of AZO by selected process control of the respective synthesis routes, which will significantly influence the particulate layer properties as well as the final application properties of the AZO thin films in the further course of the project.The submitted application for a second funding period has the objective of transferring the findings of both AGs from the first funding period relating to the growth and formation processes of AZO nanocrystals via the two synthesis routes to the subsequent process steps (Stabilization-->Coating) and using X-ray scattering of particles to be linked together so that a consideration of the entire process chain up to the production of AZO-modified thin-film solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes with adjustable application properties will be possible.