Room Temperature Wafer‐Scale Synthesis of Highly Transparent and Conductive p‐Type Sulfur‐Doped Copper Iodide

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Authors: Sungsan Kang, Taehun Kim, Min Jung, Jinhyeok Pyo, Sohyeon Park, Seonyou Park, Junsung Byeon, Hui Gu Lee, Jin Pyo Hong, Sung‐Tae Lee, Minseok Kim, H. W. Lee
+2 more SeungNam Cha, Sangyeon Pak
Cited by: 3
References: 66

Abstract

The development of high‐performance p‐type transparent conductors (TCs) is essential for advancing transparent and flexible electronics yet remains a significant challenge due to the lack of effective p‐type materials with high hole mobility and sufficiently large work function. Copper iodide (CuI) has emerged as a promising p‐type TC due to its wide bandgap (~3.1 eV), high transparency (>70%), and excellent hole transport properties. However, optimizing its electrical and optical performance requires precise control over its crystallinity and carrier concentration. Here, we present a room temperature, wafer‐scale gas‐phase synthesis method for sulfur‐doped CuI, where sulfur pre‐doping significantly enhances crystal quality and carrier mobility while achieving excellent visible‐light transmittance (86%), ultra‐low sheet resistance (75 Ω sq −1 ), and a high work function (>5.9 eV), resulting in a record‐high figure of merit (95 000 (MΩ) −1 ) among p‐type TCs. Our pre‐doping strategy yields superior electrical and optical properties without compromising material stability. Furthermore, this scalable and damage‐free synthesis method offers a practical pathway for integrating CuI into next‐generation transparent electronics, optoelectronics, and flexible devices.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Copper-based nanomaterials and applications Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Publication details

Journal / source
Energy & environment materials
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
9
Issue
5
Publication date
25 January 2026
Language
EN