Transparent Conducting Oxides for Forward-Looking IR (FLIR) Sensors

"Current transparent conductors have insufficient transparency in the infrared to be useful for shielding infrared sensors against electromagnetic inteference. This project investigates the feasibility of developing the next generation of transparentconducting oxides (TCOs) via a novel approach. The result will be a series of both p-type and n-type materials with high conductivity and transparency through the visible into the mid infrared. This is expected to benefit the United States withapplications from electromagnetic shielding of infrared sensors, to transparent electronic p-n junctions and circuitry. The proposed effort would lead to a new family of high-conductivity, wide bandwith transparent conducting oxides (TCO)s. The potentialcommercial applications include 'smart' thermal control windows, substrates for photovoltaic cells, and transparent electronic circuits."