NanoMarkets Releases New Report on Emerging Markets for "Alternative" Transparent Conductive Oxide Markets

GLEN ALLEN, Va., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoMarkets, the recognized leader in research and analysis for transparent conductors and related markets has announced the release of a new report titled, "Emerging Markets for Non-ITO Transparent Conductive Oxides" that addresses the markets for "alternative" transparent conductive oxides (TCOs).  In its report NanoMarkets predicts that by 2016 the market for these alternative TCOs will reach $925 million.

"Emerging Markets for Non-ITO Transparent Conductive Oxides" analyzes applications for these alternatives to indium tin oxide materials in LCD, e-paper, plasma and OLED displays; touch-screen sensors; thin-film and organic photovoltaics, OLED lighting; low-e windows and smart windows; solar control film, antistatics and RFI/EMI shielding.  The report also discusses the opportunities for TCOs as an alternative to amorphous silicon in thin-film transistors.

Materials covered in the report include FTO, ATO, AZO, GZO, IZO, Multicomponent Amorphous TCOs (MATCOs) and p-type materials.  The firms discussed in the report are 3M, Advanced Nano Products, Arkema, Asahi Glass, Cardinal Glass, Cathay Advanced Materials, DyeTech Solar, First Solar, Hewlett-Packard, Idemitsu, Kurt J. Lesker, Mitsubishi Materials, Nanophase, Philips Lighting, Pilkington, SAGE Electrochromic, Samsung, Solutia, Sony, Thin-Film Devices, Toshoh, Umicore and, US Research Nanomaterials.

Additional details about this report, "Emerging Markets for Non-ITO Transparent Conductive Oxides" are at http://www.nanomarkets.net/news/article/nanomarkets_releases_new_report_on_emerging_markets_for_alternative_transpa.  

Key Findings from this report:

Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) could be the next ITO!  It is already the dominant transparent conductor used for the highly successful CdTe versions of photovoltaics.  In addition, FTO has been extensively used in low-emittance (low-e) architectural windows, which are used to control costs in commercial buildings.  According to US Department of Energy the market for low-e windows continues to grow extremely fast despite the recessionary conditions in the construction industry.  The fact that this opportunity is very much "here and now" means that it should be of special importance to materials suppliers, according to NanoMarkets.  Meanwhile, FTO has also been proposed for use in plasma displays, dye sensitive cell (DSC) solar and even as a replacement for some silver coatings.

TCOs are not just for electrode materials anymore either.  NanoMarkets believes that there are significant opportunities for these materials in thin-film transistor channels.  In fact, there are already signs that they will be used in TFT channels for improved economics and performance in the AMOLEDs that are now rapidly penetrating the mobile display industry and will soon be used in TVs.  In addition, the arrival of p-type TCOs, suggests a future of completely transparent electronics and PV and LEDs constructed from non-toxic materials.

NanoMarkets expects antinomy tin oxide (ATO) in its nanomaterial form to break into new markets.  It is already gaining ground on nano-ITO in heat shielding and antistatics and NanoMarkets believes that it will even be able to compete with conducting polymers.  The patent literature also describes several gas sensors constructed of ATO thick films.  Printable ATO inks have already been developed that allow for the patterning of ATO thin films.  Some of the high profile companies that have done work in the ATO space include 3M, British Gas, Corning, Harima Chemicals and Ulvac.

About NanoMarkets:

NanoMarkets tracks and analyzes emerging market opportunities created by developments in advanced materials. It provides regular and comprehensive industry analysis of the transparent conductor, nanomaterials, display and photovoltaics spaces.  Our company has also provided insight through regular reports on the ITO market for the past six years. Visit www.nanomarkets.net for a full listing of NanoMarkets' reports and other services.

SOURCE NanoMarkets