Influence of an Annealing Temperature in a Vacuum Atmosphere on the Physical Properties of Indium Tin Oxide Nanorod Films

In the present study, indium tin oxide (ITO) nanorod films were produced by usage of ion-assisted electron-beam evaporation with a glancing angle deposition technique. The as-produced ITO nanorod films were annealed in the temperature range of 100-500 degrees C for two hours in a vacuum atmosphere. The as-produced ITO nanorod films exhibited (222) and (611) preferred orientations from the X-ray diffraction pattern. After vacuum annealing at 500 degrees C, the ITO nanorod films demonstrated many preferred orientations and the improvement of film crystallinity. The sheet resistance of the as-produced ITO nanorod films was 11.92 Omega/square and was found to be 13.63 Omega/square by annealing at 500 degrees C. The as-produced and annealed ITO nanorod films had a rod diameter of around 80 nm and transmittance in a visible zone of around 90%. The root mean square roughness of the as-produced ITO nanorod film's surface was 5.49 nm, which increased to 13.77 nm at an annealing temperature of 500 degrees C. The contact angle of the as-produced ITO nanorod films was 110.9 degrees and increased to 116.5 degrees after annealing at 500 degrees C.