Aerosol-assisted deposition of gold nanoparticle-tin dioxide composite films

Abstract

Composite gold/tin oxide films were grown from a simple one-pot precursor solution containing monobutyltin trichloride and auric acid in methanol using aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). Two types of films were formed on glass – gold nanoparticle films on the top plate and Au/SnO₂ composite film on the heated substrate. The composite film showed different amounts of gold incorporation with position from the inlet – enabling a graded film to be formed. This enabled rapid assessment of the films' functional properties. Optimum locations showed a combination of desirable properties including a blue colouration and reflectivity in the IR. This work shows that the colour of TCO films can be tuned by gold nanoparticle dopants without removing the TCO properties.