Editing Indium tin oxide (section)

{{Short description|Chemical compound}}
[[File:LHcockpitWindow.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Thin film interference]] caused by ITO coating on an [[Airbus]] cockpit window, used for defrosting.]]
'''Indium tin oxide''' ('''ITO''') is a [[ternary composition]] of [[indium]], [[tin]] and [[oxygen]] in varying proportions. Depending on the oxygen content, it can be described as either a [[ceramic]] or an [[alloy]]. Indium tin oxide is typically encountered as an oxygen-saturated composition with a formulation of 74% In, 8% Sn, and 18% O by weight. Oxygen-saturated compositions are so typical that unsaturated compositions are termed ''oxygen-deficient ITO''. It is transparent and colorless in thin layers, while in bulk form it is yellowish to gray. In the infrared region of the spectrum it acts as a metal-like mirror.

Indium tin oxide is one of the most widely used [[transparent conducting oxide]]s, not just for its [[electrical conductivity]] and [[optical transparency]], but also for the ease with which it can be deposited as a thin film, as well as its chemical resistance to moisture. As with all transparent conducting films, a compromise must be made between conductivity and transparency, since increasing the thickness and increasing the concentration of [[charge carrier]]s increases the film's conductivity, but decreases its transparency.

[[Thin film]]s of indium tin oxide are most commonly deposited on surfaces by [[physical vapor deposition]]. Often used is [[electron beam evaporation]], or a range of [[sputter deposition]] techniques.