What is Transparent conducting oxide (TCO)?

A metal oxide with additions of dopants. Its main application is flat-panel displays, PV and other optoelectronic devices, where TCO is applied as a performance-improving coating. The transparent conducting oxide films are mostly amorphous or multicrystalline microstructures deposited on a glass surface. Today, the most common TCO is indium tin oxide. However, indium is a rather expensive and rare element. That is why, researchers are in search of cheaper and more abundant alternatives.

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