Optimization of Cuprous Oxides Thin Films to be used as Thermoelectric Touch Detectors

Citation:
Figueira, J., J. Loureiro, J. Marques, C. Bianchi, P. Duarte, M. Ruoho, I. Tittonen, and I. Ferreira, "Optimization of Cuprous Oxides Thin Films to be used as Thermoelectric Touch Detectors", ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, vol. 9, issue 7, pp. 6520-6529, 2017.

Abstract:

The electronic and optical properties of p-type copper oxides (CO) strongly depend on the production technique as it influences the obtained phases: cuprous oxide (Cu2O) or cupric oxide (CuO), the most common ones. Cu films deposited by thermal evaporation have been annealed in air atmosphere, with temperature between 225 and 375 °C and time between 1 and 4 h. The resultant CO films have been studied to understand the influence of processing parameters in the thermoelectric, electrical, optical, morphological, and structural properties. Films with a Cu2O single phase are formed when annealing at 225 °C, while CuO single phase films can be obtained at 375 °C. In between, both phases are obtained in proportions that depend on the film thickness and annealing time. The positive sign of the Seebeck coefficient (S), measured at room temperature (RT), confirms the p-type behavior of both oxides, showing values up to 1.2 mV·°C–1and conductivity up to 2.9 (Ω·m)−1. A simple detector using Cu2O have been fabricated and tested with fast finger touch events

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