Electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders

Abstract

An improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders is disclosed. By adjusting pH-value, the metal compositions that a transparent conductive oxide film requires are electrolyzed to form individual metal ion precursory solutions under the condition not to precipitate the solution. Then, the individual metal ion precursory solutions with the required composition ratio are mixed and the precipitate reaction is performed. Finally, transparent conductive multi-component oxide powders with the controlled composition ratio and composition homogeneity are obtained by calcining the washed, filtered, and dried co-precipitates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders comprising steps of:
 placing a prepared electrolytic metal used as an anode in an electrolytic solution;   adjusting a pH of said electrolytic solution;   performing an electrolytic process to form a clear first precursor metal ion solution;   adding and mixing a clear second precursor metal ion solution to obtain a multi-component oxide precursor solution; and   adding a precipitant to vary a pH of said multi-component oxide precursor solution and precipitate said multi-component oxide precursor solution, whereby transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders are obtained.   
     
     
         2 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein said precipitant is added to produce a co-precipitate solution, and said step of adding said precipitant further comprises steps of:
 filtering said co-precipitate solution to obtain a filter cake;   washing and filtering said filter cake to obtain co-precipitate compound powders;   drying said co-precipitate compound powders; and   calcining said co-precipitate compound powders to obtain said transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders.   
     
     
         3 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein composition of said electrolytic solution comprises NH 4 Cl or NH 4 NO 3 . 
     
     
         4 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein concentration of said electrolytic solution is between 0.5M and 3M. 
     
     
         5 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein in said step of adjusting said pH of said electrolytic solution, said pH of said electrolytic solution is adjusted to between 0.5 and 3.5. 
     
     
         6 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein in said step of performing said electrolytic process, a temperature ranges between 10° C. and 50° C. 
     
     
         7 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein said second precursory metal ion solution is fabricated by electrolyzing metal or dissolving metal salts directly. 
     
     
         8 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein said precipitant is NH 4 OH, NaOH, or KOH. 
     
     
         9 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein in said step of adding said precipitant to adjust said pH of said multi-component oxide precursory solution, said pH of said multi-component oxide precursory solution is adjusted to between 5.5 and 9.5. 
     
     
         10 . The improved electrolytic method for fabricating transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders according to  claim 1 , wherein composition of said transparent conductive multi-component metal oxide powders is tin doped indium oxide (ITO) or zinc doped indium oxide (IZO), aluminum doped zinc oxide, or gallium doped zinc oxide.