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 nanoparticles 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.