What is Indium Tin Oxide Used For?
Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is a material that is possibly more widely used than you might imagine. It is one of the most commonly used transparent conducting oxides due to its optical transparency and electrical conductivity.
Its popularity is due to its relative ease of deposition on glass, plastic, and thin films. ITO applications can be found in various industries with the most widely used being touchscreen technology for smartphones, tablets, and other electrical appliances.
Key Areas of ITO Applications
Apart from touchscreen technology, ITO has various other applications in different industries. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
Automotive, Aerospace, and Entertainment
Indium Tin Oxide is used in the automotive industry for heated windows which provide an optimum solution for both defrost and demist requirements. The automotive industry is also moving more to capacitive switches where no actual buttons are required (swish interior car lighting powered by touch) and of course, in car touch screens.
We mentioned touchscreens and there is a good chance that you have used an ITO touch screen on a regular basis, whether this is your own phone or a supermarket touch screen checkout.
Medical, Imaging, and Microscopy
ITO is used in medical devices for imaging and microscopy. It is also used in flat panel and plasma displays, thin film photovoltaics, microscope slides, coverslips, and solar panels. One notable application is an ITO coated microscope slide. These slides are perfect for electron microscopy, allowing the specimen to be viewed without having to run a charge through it.
Space, Military, and Defence
ITO coatings are capable of withstanding harsh environments and temperatures. As a result, they find applications in gas turbines, the engines of jets and rockets, and military applications – these include heated windows and touch panel sensors.
Other Common Uses of ITO
ITO coatings also find their application in photography, where they help improve the sensitivity of cameras to blue light. ITO coatings are also used in sodium vapor lamp glasses.
Indium Tin Oxide has become an essential material in various industries. Its unique properties, such as optical transparency and electrical conductivity, make it an ideal choice for touchscreen technology, flat panel and plasma displays, and various other applications. With its demand continually growing in military areas and even space exploration, ITO is sure to be used in many more applications in the future.
If you are looking for more information about ITO applications or need advice on finding the most suitable product for your specific purpose, feel free to contact us and speak with an expert.
