Preparation and characterization of transparent/conductive nano-composites films

Polymer-embedding of nano-sized indium tin oxide (SnO.In2O3, ITO) produces electrically conductive materials transparent to the visible light at filling factors higher than the percolation threshold. ITO powders are commercially available in an aggregated form and a disaggregation technique was required. Here, aggregated ITO anoparticles were transformed to colloidal suspension by high-speed stirring. This finely dispersed ceramic suspension was stabilized by addition of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and the obtained colloidal system was cast on an optical grade substrate (PET) to produce electrically conductive-transparent nanocomposite films. Preliminary mechanical and electrical characterization of these films showed good conductivity and interfacial properties.