SBIR Phase I: Zinc Oxide Based Displays

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will synthesize and coat doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) as a transparent and conducting thin film on a polymer substrate for flexible flat panel display applications. The objective is to find a low-cost alternative to widely use Indium tin oxide. Thin films of doped nanocrystalline ZnO will be coated on flexible polymer substrates using a proprietary plasma coating technique. The target temperatures will be less than 100 degree C. During the Phase I, these low cost coatings will be developed and their performance parameters will be studied, which will be followed by extensive field-testing and scale up studies in the Phase II effort. Commercially, important applications of ZnO as a TCO (transparent conducting oxide) include: Flat-screen-high definition television (HDTVs), high-resolution screens for portable computers, electrochromic mirrors, defrosting mirrors, touch panel controls, and electromagnetic shielding. The market potential for such products is increasing exponentially owing to the microelectronics revolution and has become a part of everyday life.