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Transparent Conducting Oxide Film – Indium Tin Oxide Alternative
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, US
TECHNOLOGY BRIEF
Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is used as a transparent conducting oxide film in electronics, displays, windows and other devices. A highly reproducible and scalable process for making an ITO alternative that is highly transparent and has superior conductivity has been developed.
TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a novel growth approach for the synthesis of doped barium tin stannate (BSO) for use as a transparent conductive oxide (TCO). The material produced has high room-temperature conductivity and mobility when the dopant is lanthanum. The value of conductivity achieved is comparable to that of the best reported value for indium-tin-oxide (ITO), the industry standard for transparent conducting oxide. While other approaches have demonstrated the promise of Lanthanum-doped BSO as a replacement for ITO, these approaches lack reproducibility and the material produced has lower conductivity and transparency. The novel synthesis approach involves using a chemical precursor for tin as a substitute for a solid tin source in a hybrid molecular beam epitaxy system. The advantages include better structural quality of the films, scalable growth rates and high reproducibility. A variety of dopants can be used including lanthanum, neodymium, and gadolinium.
AREA/MATURITY/AWARDS
Primary Application Area: Electronics, Sensors, Communicationss
Technology Development Status: Concept
Technology Readiness Level: TRL 2
SHOWCASE SUMMARY
Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab