The Future of ITO: Transparent Conductor & ITO Replacement Markets

Abstract

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is the most widely used transparent conductor in the display industry and also finds applications in photovoltaics, EL lighting and a variety of other optical and electronic applications. Yet, ITO has been described as the material that we love to hate," and for good reason. ITO is expensive. Indium is in short supply. And ITO is not well suited flexible substrates; the direction in which most display manufacturers are headed.

This report examines the opportunities for both improved formulations of ITO - especially ITO inks - and for ITO replacements. It covers ITO inks and hybrid materials that combine ITO with some other material. It also examines complete alternatives to ITO including PEDOT, other metal oxides and nanomaterials. Both currently available products and materials beginning to emerge from the labs are considered. In addition to analyzing the markets for alternatives to "ITO classic," this report also discusses the marketing issues that will have to be addressed to enable growth in these markets. The report includes an eight-year forecast of novel ITO formulations and alternatives. It also profiles the activities of leading companies and labs working in this field.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

• E.1 Opportunity analysis
  • E.1.1 ITO inks and pastes
  • E.1.2 ITO hybrids
  • E.1.3 How will substitutes for ITO get accepted in the market?
• E.2 Implications for the display industry, photovoltaics and other end user segments
• E.3 Key firms to watch
• E.4 Summary of market forecasts

Chapter One: Introduction

• 1.1 Background to this report
• 1.2 Objective and scope of this report
• 1.3 Methodology of this report
• 1.4 Plan of this report

Chapter Two: ITO and its Alternatives

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 ITO classic
• 2.3 The trouble with ITO
  • 2.3.1 Cost trends
  • 2.3.2 Availability of Indium
  • 2.3.3 Lack of flexibility
• 2.4 Current and future manufacturing processes for classic ITO
• 2.5 Printed ITO
  • 2.5.1 Potential advantages of printed ITO
  • 2.5.2 Currently available ITO inks, pastes and powders
  • 2.5.3 Current R&D on ITO inks and likely commercialization efforts
  • 2.5.4 Why hasn' t printed ITO happened yet?
• 2.5 ITO "mixtures"
  • 2.5.1 ITO + silver
  • 2.5.2 ITO + carbon nanotubes
• 2.6 PEDOT as an alternative to ITO
  • 2.6.1 Advantages and disadvantages of ITO as a replacement for ITO
  • 2.6.2 Manufacturing alternatives for PEDOT
• 2.7 Other metal oxides as an alternative to ITO
  • 2.7.1 Aluminum-doped zinc oxide
  • 2.7.2 Indium oxide
  • 2.7.3 Tin oxide and antinomy tin oxide
  • 2.7.4 Metal oxide inks
• 2.8 Carbon nanotube coatings
  • 2.8.1 Advantages and disadvantages of carbon nanotube coatings as a replacement for ITO
  • 2.8.2 Emerging standards for carbon nanotubes in electronics
  • 2.8.3 Current and emerging formulations
  • 2.8.4 Carbon nanotube inks

Chapter Three Applications for ITO

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Displays
  • 3.2.1 Opportunities for printed ITO
  • 3.2.2 Opportunities for ITO alternatives
• 3.3 Photovoltaics
  • 3.3.1 Opportunities for printed ITO
  • 3.3.2 Opportunities for ITO alternatives
• 3.4 Lighting
  • 3.4.1 Opportunities for printed ITO
  • 3.4.2 Opportunities for ITO alternatives
• 3.5 Other Applications and Opportunities for Novel ITO Formulations and Replacements
  • 3.5.1 Antistatic coatings
  • 3.5.2 Optical coatings
  • 3.5.3 EMI Shielding
  • 3.5.4 Sensors
  • 3.5.5 Heaters
  • 3.5.6 Lasers

Chapter Four Eight-Year Market Forecasts

• 4.1 Forecasting methodology
• 4.2 Forecast of ITO Inks and ITO hybrid materials by application
• 4.3 Forecast of ITO replacements by type of material, manufacturing method and application
• 4.4 Summary of forecasts