TCOtronics · Transparent conductive oxide nanocrYstalline films for eleCtronics and optoelectronics via low-cost solution prOcessing

TCOtronics project aims at developing and bridging to the market a revolutionary concept of a low-cost solution process to fabricate transparent conductive oxide-based films optimized for optical, electronic and optoelectronic applications. We will fabricate multilayer photonic structures, for filters and mirrors, and transparent electrodes for visible solar cells and transparent electronic circuits. We will employ only Earth-abundant elements. We will scale-up the fabrication process developing and optimizing nanocrystal inks for printers.Transparent conducting films (TCFs) are very important for many different applications including touch screens, portable and flexible electronics, optics, multifunctional windows or solar cells. The TCF market is anticipated to reach USD 10.2 Billion by 2028 with a CAGR growth of 9.8% in terms of value from 2020 to 2028. It is dominated by transparent conducting oxide (TCOs) thin films for many decades now, as TCOs carefully balance electrical conductivity controlled by doping with other elements and optical transmittance. Nevertheless, the ceramic nature of TCO films make them often brittle and fragile, and also their deposition conditions are not compatible with the printing of electronic components on flexible substrates. This will ultimately affect the flexible and portable electronics sector and hence alternative fabrication protocols are desired. Also the optical properties of thin film oxides are important. In particular the near and mid infrared wavelength range is becoming increasingly important for wireless communication, biophotonics, sensing, or heat shielding.Hence, novel more cost-effective processing techniques are required that replace the current deposition methods of oxides in general and TCOs in particular and that result in similar optical and electric quality as the industrially well-established deposition techniques finding application as transparent electrodes and photonic structures.