Badeker in 1907 observed that some materials are optically transparent in the visible light and electrically conducting [1]. Because of the increasing interest in electrically and electronically active materials, the search for materials and the techniques for producing semi-transparent electrically conducting films have gained much importance. In an intrinsic stoichiometric material, it is not possible to have simultaneously high transparency (>80%%) in the visible region and high electrical conductivity (>103 Ω cm-1). A variety of metals in thin film form (

Transparent conducting oxide thin films doped with transition metals have attracted intense research interest following theoretical predictions of possible room temperature ferromagnetism in these films. This monograph details the growth, characterization and thermopower studies of room temperature ferromagnetic Mn doped indium oxide and indium tin oxide thin films grown by dc reactive sputtering and the influence of annealing on the properties of the films. Details of the experimental setups for measurement of thermopower using integral and differential methods and the fabrication and performance studies of transparent thin film thermocouples also form content of this monograph.

Four novel diamine adducts of bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)zinc [Zn(hfa)2·(diamine)] can be synthesized in a single step reaction. Single crystal x-ray diffraction studies reveal monomeric, six-coordinate structures. The thermal stabilities and vapor phase transport properties of these complexes are considerably greater than those of conventional solid/liquid zinc metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) precursors. Of the four complexes, bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentadionato)(N,N '-diethylethylenediamine)zinc [Zn(hfa)2 ( N,N'-DEA)], is particularly effective in the growth of thin films of the transparent conducting oxide Zn- and Sn-doped In2O3 (ZITO) due to its superior volatility and low melting point of 64°C.

The book is devoted to the design, application and characterization of thin films and structures, with special emphasis on optical applications. It comprises ten papers—five featured and five regular—authored by scientists all over the world. Diverse materials are studied and their possible applications are demonstrated and discussed—transparent conductive coatings and structures from ZnO doped with Al and Ga and Ti-doped SnO2, polymers and nanosized zeolite thin films for optical sensing, TiO2 with linear and nonlinear optical properties, organic diamagnetic materials, broadband optical coatings, CrWN glass molding coatings, and silicon on insulator waveguides.

Transparent conducting thin films of metal oxides, doped metal oxides, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have been produced using various deposition techniques, including: Aerosol Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD), Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (APCVD), and Spray Coating. The resultant thin films were tested for their performance in a number of applications, including: Low emissivity ('Low-E') glazing, photovoltaic electrode materials, gas sensing and photocatalysis. AACVD was shown as a viable, and attractive, deposition technique for the synthesis of tin oxide, and doped tin oxide thin films, which allows for controllable doping levels, crystallinity, and surface structure. The tailoring of these physical attributes allows for enhanced performance of the functional properties of the films, whereby, a lower growth temperature produced highly transparent, highly conductive coatings with a low haze value for 'Low-E' applications, whereas, higher growth temperatures produced the high electrical conductivity, transparency, and light scattering properties required for high performance electrodes in thin film photovoltaics. In addition, a dual coating methodology was developed using both AACVD, and APCVD, to grow tin oxide thin films in a rapid timescale, but with modified surface structures showing changes to the short range waviness, kurtosis, and the surface area. Growth of carbon nanotubes, using CVD, was investigated over a range of metal catalysts, with varying Pauling electronegativity values, and over a range of temperature, methane, and hydrogen conditions. A growth mechanism has been postulated, whereby, the electronegativity of the metal catalyst, and the solubility and diffusion of the carbon through that catalyst, affects the type and properties of the carbon structure produced. To the authors knowledge, this is the first reported growth of MWCNTs using a chromium solo-metal catalyst, and the first reported growth of the unique 'carbon nanofibres' which were produced using gold and silver metal catalysts. Functionalisation of SWCNTs using a microwave reflux process was shown to yield sulphonate and sulphone modified nanotubes, which are highly soluble in water and able to undergo spray coating to produce carbon nanotube, nanonet transparent conducting thin films. The functionalisation process was shown to be reversible upon heating of the modified nanotubes. AACVD has been deemed unable to produced doped zinc oxide transparent conducting films. However, undoped zinc oxide films were produced. They displayed a high photocatalytic action in the degredation of stearic acid, and a UV light induced superhydrophilicity. The modification and deposition techniques, established throughout this work, were utilised to form transparent, hybrid, metal oxide-CNT coatings, for gas sensing. The hybrid materials displayed enhanced response times to combustible target gases, which has been attributed to the catalytic effects of the exposed carbon nanotube surfaces; and to the spillover of adsorbed oxygen from the active nanotubes to the metal oxide surface.

Thin transparent and electrically conductive films of tin doped indium oxide (ITO) were made by sintering of nanoparticle dispersions. The resistivity decreased to 1 - 10(exp -2) Omega cm upon treatment at 800 deg C, while the luminous transmittance remained high. The property evolution was connected with sintering and densification as studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Fluorescence and Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis.