Patent ID: 8404302

Claim:
A solution process for forming a textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film, the process comprising: providing a substrate; forming a first layer on the substrate of metal oxide nanoparticles having a pyramid structure with an average size greater than 100 nanometers (nm), with voids between the metal oxide nanoparticles having a size about equal to the size of the metal oxide nanoparticles; forming a second layer overlaying the first layer, filling the voids between the nanoparticles of the first layer, and completely covering the substrate, wherein forming the second layer includes: depositing a solution of suspended metallic nanoparticles in a solvent where the metallic nanoparticles are selected from a group consisting of Zn, Sn, and In, and the solvent is selected from a group consisting of organic and inorganic liquid mediums; annealing to sinter the metal nanoparticles, at a temperature insufficient to sinter the metal oxide nanoparticles in the first layer; forming a metal oxide film; and, forming a continuous TCO film having an average surface roughness that is created by the combination of first and second layers.