Study of Effects Occurring on Formation of Fractal Microstructures in Layers of Polycarbonate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Indium Tin Oxide, and Zinc Oxide

Abstract

The effects occurring on the formation of fractal microstructures in conductive layers of oxide compounds are investigated. It is demonstrated that during a high-density current flow in the layers of indium tin oxides (ITOs) placed on glass substrate a dynamic system is formed with the subsequent formation of a current channel on the layer’s surface, which determines the path of the development of fractal microstructures. Fractal microstructures of varied shapes (spiral, sectoral, and radial) were formed. It is shown that application of an additional polymer thin film on the layers of oxide compounds visualizes the breakdown processes occurring within the structure. Magnified polymer imaging allows to estimate the quality of the layers in contact without high resolution optical equipment. The emergence of luminescence related to the relaxation of excited atoms is identified as the most crucial effect following the formation of fractal structures. This analytical signal is promising in terms of the analysis of the processes of the formation of fractal structures.