Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use ITO glass or ITO PET film?
ITO glass is rigid, handles higher processing temperatures and offers lower sheet resistance. ITO-coated PET is flexible and suits flexible electronics and sensors, but should be kept at low processing temperatures, usually below about 150 °C.
Which sheet resistance do I need?
Low values, around 3 to 15 Ohm/sq, suit electrodes that carry current, such as OLEDs and solar cells. Higher values, 30 to 100 Ohm/sq, are used where transparency matters more, such as touch sensors.
How hot can ITO glass get?
ITO resistance starts to rise when heated above about 300 °C in air. For processes with high-temperature annealing, FTO glass is usually the better choice.
How should ITO glass be cleaned?
A common routine is ultrasonic cleaning in detergent, deionized water, acetone and isopropanol, followed by UV-ozone or plasma treatment to improve wetting and work function before deposition.
Why are there different glass thicknesses?
1.1 mm is the standard thickness for most lab devices. Thinner glass, such as 0.33 to 0.7 mm, is used for lighter devices or where the substrate needs to bend slightly or fit a specific holder.
What to know before you buy
Products here are sorted by two numbers, substrate thickness and sheet resistance. Standard glass comes in 1.1 mm and 0.7 mm. The 1.1 mm line runs from 3 to 5 Ohm/sq through 5 to 7, 7 to 10, 12 to 15 and 30 to 60 up to 100 Ohm/sq. The 0.7 mm line covers 7 to 10, 15, 30 to 60 and 100 Ohm/sq. Thin glass, such as the 0.4 mm 10 Ohm/sq substrate, and 0.33 mm and 0.55 mm options suit compact or lightweight devices.
For flexible devices, choose ITO coated PET film, or 0.175 mm, 10 Ohm/sq PET film already cut into square pieces. Uncoated, non-conductive PET sheet is also listed. For small test cells, ITO glass at 10 x 10 x 1.1 mm in packs of 10 saves cutting time and gives repeatable sample sizes.
Note your target thickness and resistance range before comparing listings, then check the substrate size on the product page. For how ITO compares with other transparent conductors, read Comparing ITO, FTO and AZO Films as Transparent Conductive Oxides.
