Abstract: Using scanning electron micrographs and XRD analysis of ITO films,the energy band structures of equilibrium and non-equilibrium of ITO films are constructed.A model of the band-tail state distribution is built using the Kronig-Penney model.A never-before-reported hysteresis loop in the I-V curve is obtained in the measurement.The experimental results agree well with the theoretical data.By analyzing the mechanism behind the I-V characteristic,the model of the energy band structure is proved reasonable.The temperature characteristics of the ITO film measured show that the slope of the conductivity-temperature curve varies from a positive value to a negative one.

Key words: ITO thin films, energy band diagram, I-V curve