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P-type electrical conduction in transparent thin films of CuAlO2

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroshi Kawazoe

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta)

  • Masahiro Yasukawa

    (National Industrial Research Institute of Nagoya)

  • Hiroyuki Hyodo

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta)

  • Masaaki Kurita

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta)

  • Hiroshi Yanagi

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta)

  • Hideo Hosono

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta)

Abstract

Optically transparent oxides tend to be electrical insulators, by virtue of their large electronic bandgap (⩾3.1 eV). The most notable exceptions are doped versions of the oxides In2O3, SnO2 and ZnO—all n-type (electron) conductors—which are widely used as the transparent electrodes in flat-panel displays1,2. On the other hand, no transparent oxide exhibiting high p-type (hole) conductivity is known to exist, whereas such materials could open the way to a range of novel applications. For example, a combination of the two types of transparent conductor in the form of a pn junction could lead to a ‘functional’ window that transmits visible light yet generates electricity in response to the absorption of ultraviolet photons. Here we describe a strategy for identifying oxide materials that should combine p-type conductivity with good optical transparency. We illustrate the potential of this approach by reporting the properties of thin films of CuAlO2, a transparent oxide having room-temperature p-type conductivity up to 1 S cm−1. Although the conductivity of our candidate material is significantly lower than that observed for the best n-type conducting oxides, it is sufficient for some applications, and demonstrates that the development of transparent p-type conductors is not an insurmountable goal.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroshi Kawazoe & Masahiro Yasukawa & Hiroyuki Hyodo & Masaaki Kurita & Hiroshi Yanagi & Hideo Hosono, 1997. "P-type electrical conduction in transparent thin films of CuAlO2," Nature, Nature, vol. 389(6654), pages 939-942, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:389:y:1997:i:6654:d:10.1038_40087
    DOI: 10.1038/40087
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    Cited by:

    1. Ming-Hsien Li & Jun-Ho Yum & Soo-Jin Moon & Peter Chen, 2016. "Inorganic p-Type Semiconductors: Their Applications and Progress in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Perovskite Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-28, April.
    2. Anton Matasov & Alexander Bush & Vladislav Kozlov & Oleg Glaz, 2024. "The effect of electric field threshold switching from high resistivity to low resistivity state in ceramic samples of CuCr1–xAlxO2 delafossite solid solutions," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 97(7), pages 1-9, July.

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