Characteristics of flexible indium tin oxide electrode grown by continuous roll-to-roll sputtering process for flexible displays

The preparation and characteristics of flexible indium tin oxide electrodes grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using a specially designed roll-to-roll sputtering system for use in flexible optoelectronics In spite of low a PET substrate temperature, we can obtain the flexible electrode with a sheet resistance of 47.4 ohm/square and an average optical transmittance of 83.46 % in the green region of 500~550 nm wavelength. Both x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis results showed that all flexible ITO electrodes grown on the PET substrate were an amorphous structure with a very smooth and featureless surface, regardless of the Ar/$O_2$ flow ratio due to the low substrate temperature, which is maintained by a cooling drum. In addition, the flexible ITO electrode grown on the Ar ion beam treated PET substrates showed more stable mechanical properties than the flexible ITO electrode grown on the wet cleaned PET substrate, due to an increased adhesion between the flexible ITO and the PET substrates.