Dear Colleagues,

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) play an essential role in technologies ranging from low emissivity windows to photovoltaic energy systems to a wide variety of electronic display technologies. A tremendous range of oxides are transparent, but engineering these to also exhibit useful electronic conductivity is rarely straightforward. Developing materials that meet all of the performance characteristics demanded by a given application is profoundly challenging, and is the focus of worldwide research. Tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) sets the standard for many performance metrics, but has the drawback of high expense associated with indium. Alternatives such as Al-doped tin oxide and indium-doped cadmium oxide have been widely investigated but have not replaced ITO in most applications. Many other multication oxides have been investigated, along with transparent conducting polymers and related systems.

Desirable characteristics include

• low thermal budget (synthesis and processing require T < 100 ºC)
• high mobility
• high conductivity
• low cost
• chemical compatibility with other functional layers
• high transmittance over targeted wavelength range
• mechanical stability and flexibility

New and improved materials are needed because existing materials are not anticipated to meet the performance, cost, and availability demands of emerging consumer technologies. In this special issue we aim to cover recent progress in achieving high performance in transparent conductors as well as in understanding the mechanisms and issues that limit performance, along with new approaches to developing transparent conductors  including rational design and incorporation of novel materials.

Prof. Dr. Robert Bruce van Dover
Guest Editor

• oxides
• transparent conductors
• LCD display
• low emissivity
• transparent electronics
• oxide transistors
• amorphous oxide conductors
• transparent conducting film
• transparent electrode