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ITO coating: Transparent, conductive, and versatile
Indium tin oxide (ITO) combines electrical conductivity with optical transparency. This makes ITO coatings ideal for demanding technical applications.
Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coatings are designed to produce an electrically conductive surface while maintaining high transparency in the visible spectral range. Due to the semiconductor properties of this material, ITO is also effective in reflecting long-wave IR radiation. With its dual characteristics of transparency and electrical conductivity in the visible range, indium tin oxide can be used in a wide variety of applications. Indium Tin Oxide serves well in preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD). Furthermore, it finds application as a heating resistor or for contacting electrical panels. Additionally, the ITO coating exhibits infrared radiation reflection properties. Due to its high refractive index, ITO boasts exceptional reflectivity. ITO coatings are also suitable for the electrical activation of liquid crystals in micro-displays.
If required, we can also apply a passivation layer of silicon dioxide SiO2 before coating with ITO. This very thin layer applied between the glass substrate and the ITO coating increases the electrical insulation. The layer also serves as protection, e.g. in LCD display applications, so that alkali oxides from the glass cannot migrate into liquid crystals.
Advantages of coatings with ITO (indium tin oxide)
- Coating of indium, oxygen and tin (indium oxide / In2O3 and tin oxide / SnO2)
- Transparent, conductive layers
- Avoidance of static charges (ESD)
- High transmission in the visible and near infrared range
- High reflection in the infrared spectrum from approx. 1500 nm (can be reduced by additional layers if required)
- High stability against environmental influences and temperature
- Antistatic and temperature resistant, ideal for ESD protection and heating applications
- Very low specific resistance
- ITO coatings can be contacted
- Coating of ITO-coated substrates according to customer specifications and with dimensions as required (up to 550 x 550 mm)
- Substrates that we coat with ITO: Glass, polycarbonate, possibly other plastics
- Application to flexible substrates possible
Typical applications of ITO-coatings
- Contacting electrical panels
- Optically permeable heating glass (e.g. for applications in oven interiors)
- Display technology (screens, micro-displays)
- Wafers
- X-ray applications
- Electromagnetically shielded windows or touchscreens in vehicles, EMI window
- EMC shielding / EMI shielding
- Electroluminescent displays
- Microscopy
- ITO-coated microscope slides
- Heating applications / electrically heatable components
- Heating resistor
- Heating window
- Antistatic applications
FAQ about ITO Coatings
ITO stands for indium tin oxide. It is a transparent and electrically conductive layer that is used in technical applications such as displays, heating glass, and ESD protection.
Thanks to its semiconductor properties, ITO enables high transmission in the visible range and electrical conductivity at the same time. This makes ITO coating ideal for optoelectronic applications.
It offers antistatic properties, high temperature resistance, low electrical resistance, infrared reflection, and is stable against environmental influences.
Typically on glass and polycarbonate, but also on other plastics and flexible substrates, depending on customer requirements.
The coating can be applied to substrates with an edge length of up to approx. 600 mm. For special customer-specific applications, edge lengths of approx. 900 mm are also possible.
The thickness of the ITO layer depends on the required electrical surface resistance and the respective application. Typically, the layer thickness is between approx. 10 and 300 nm.
ITO coatings are used in a variety of industries. For example, ITO coatings are used in microscopy for ESD purposes, in display technology for contacting, and in defense and space applications for EMC shielding.
Yes, ITO reflects long-wave infrared radiation from around 1500 nm. In MWIR and LWIR, reflections of >90% are possible.
Yes, ITO layers can be contacted and are therefore suitable for electrical applications such as heating resistors or panels.
ITO enables the electrical activation of liquid crystals in microdisplays and provides transparent, conductive surfaces in screens and display windows.
It increases electrical insulation and, in LCD applications for example, prevents alkali oxides from the glass from migrating into liquid crystals.
