Optimization of the Cathode Arc Plasma Deposition Processing Parameters of ZnO Film Using the Grey-Relational Taguchi Method

Abstract

We deposited undoped ZnO films on the glass substrate at a low temperature (<70°C) using cathode arc plasma deposition (CAPD) and the grey-relational Taguchi method was used to determine the processing parameters of ZnO thin films. The Taguchi method with an L9 orthogonal array, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to investigate the performances in the deposition operations. The effect and optimization of deposition parameters, comprising the Ar : O2 gas flow ratio of 1 : 6, 1 : 8, and 1 : 10, the arc current of 50 A, 60 A, and 70 A, and the deposition time of 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min, on the electrical resistivity and optical transmittance of the ZnO films are studied. The results indicate that, by using the grey-relational Taguchi method, the optical transmittance of ZnO thin films increases from 88.17% to 88.82% and the electrical resistivity decreases from 5.12×10-3Ω-cm to 4.38×10-3Ω-cm, respectively.