Transparent

Electronics

Submitted by,
Sajas K.K.
Guided by Roll no: 18
Miss. Shahida S5 EC
Introduction

What is transparent electronics?

 In transparent electronics the usual opaque

semiconductor materials forming the basis for
electronic device fabrication is replaced with
transparent materials.
 There are two technologies which preceded
and underlie transparent electronics:

1. Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs)

2. Thin Film Transistors (TFTs)

Transparent Conducting Oxides TCOs)

 TCOs constitute an unusual class of materials

possessing two physical properties (generally
considered mutually exclusive):

1. High optical transparency. ( Eg>3.1eV)

2. High electrical conductivity.

Transparent electronic
devices
Transparent Passive
devices

Transparent Active devices

Transparent Passive devices

 Transparent Thin Film Resistors

 Transparent Thin Film Capacitors
 Transparent Thin Film Inductors
Transparent Thin Film Resistors
* 
Resistive material: ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)

Typical sheet resistance ~ 10-

Conductivity of TCO’s depends on number of

oxygen vacancies ( and metal atoms occupying
interstitial sites.
Transparent Thin Film Capacitors
*  Most insulators are transparent.

 Contact layer is made of highly conducting

TCOs (ITO).
* 
Transparent Thin Film Inductors

 Hard to realize due to poor conductivity of

TCO’s compared to metals.

 High L requires larger number of turns which

in turn results in increased parasitic resistance.
*Schottky
  Barriers

Formed from metal (anode)-semiconductor

(cathode) junction.

Space charge region (depletion region) and

potential barrier formation due to difference in
work function of metal and semiconductor.

Schottky barrier height

, where Schottky barrier height
work function of metal
Electron affinity of semiconductor
Energy band in a Schottky barrier
Transparent Thin Film Transistors
Constitutes the heart of transparent
electronics

Channel is formed from highly insulating, wide

band gap transparent semiconductor(ZnO).

Source, drain and gate contacts are made

from highly conductive TCO (ITO).

Two possible configurations are:

a) Bottom gate
b) Top gate
Possible structure, (a) Bottom gate, and
(b) Top gate.
Operation of a bottom gate TFT
 Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths Weaknesses
Visible
Visible transparency
transparency High
High resistance
resistance of
of TCO’s
TCO’s
Large
Large area
area Lack
Lack of
of complementary
complementary devices
devices
Low cost (solution based Low frequency of operation.(KHz
Low cost (solution based to few MHz).
deposition and printing)
deposition and printing) fT=
Low temperature processing Technological immaturity
Low temperature
Free real estate processing Technological
  immaturity
Passive
Free realavailability
estate (R & C)  
Robust
Passive stable inorganic
availability (R &materials
C)   
Safe, nontoxic materials  
Robust stable inorganic materials  
Safe, nontoxic materials  
Applications

Active Matrix LCD (AMLCD).

Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Device

display backplane (AMOLED).

Value added glass.

Transparent electronics on opaque substrates.

UV detectors and arrays

• Transparent solar cells

• UV detectors for spectrally resolved imaging.

• Security applications:
Invisible cameras and
Invisible RFID’s
Conclusion
• Started as a mere electrical device technology
during world war 2, transparent electronics
now holds the key for many future
advancements in security, entertainment
efficient utilization of energy.
Reference
• ‘Transparent Electronics ’, Springer
publications, J.F.Wager, D. A. Keszler, R. E.
Presley.

• ‘Transparent electronics: from synthesis to

applications’, Wiley publications: Antonio
Facchetti, Tobin J. Marks
Thank you