Showing papers on "Indium tin oxide published in 2009"
TL;DR: Preliminary experiments in chemical doping are presented and show that optimization of this material is not limited to improvements in layer morphology, and that this technology is inexpensive, is massively scalable, and does not suffer from several shortcomings of indium tin oxide.
Abstract: We report the formation of a nanocomposite comprised of chemically converted graphene and carbon nanotubes. Our solution-based method does not require surfactants, thus preserving the intrinsic electronic and mechanical properties of both components, delivering 240 ohms/square at 86% transmittance. This low-temperature process is completely compatible with flexible substrates and does not require a sophisticated transfer process. We believe that this technology is inexpensive, is massively scalable, and does not suffer from several shortcomings of indium tin oxide. A proof-of-concept application in a polymer solar cell with power conversion efficiency of 0.85% is demonstrated. Preliminary experiments in chemical doping are presented and show that optimization of this material is not limited to improvements in layer morphology.
1,005 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a roll-to-roll process for fabrication of polymer solar cells comprising five layers on flexible substrates is presented, where the device geometry is inverted and allow for fabrication on both transparent and non-transparent flexible substrate.
623 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarized several important kinds of novel support materials for PEM fuel cells (including direct methanol fuel cells): nanostructured carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, mesoporous carbon), conductive doped diamonds and nanodiamonds, conductive oxides (tin oxide/indium tin oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide), and carbides (tungsten carbides).
Abstract: Catalyst support materials exhibit great influence on the cost, performance, and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This feature article summarizes several important kinds of novel support materials for PEM fuel cells (including direct methanol fuel cells): nanostructured carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, mesoporous carbon), conductive doped diamonds and nanodiamonds, conductive oxides (tin oxide/indium tin oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide), and carbides (tungsten carbides). The advantages and disadvantages, the acting mechanism to promote electrocatalytic performance, and the strategies to improve present catalyst support materials and search for new ones are discussed. This is expected to shed light on future development of catalyst supports for PEM fuel cells.
585 citations
TL;DR: Unlike noble-metal nanostructures, ITO has no inter- and intraband transitions in the vis-near-IR region and represents a free-electron conduction, allowing us to systematically study the origin of optical effects arising from the SPRs of conduction electrons.
Abstract: Here we report the synthesis of conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles (NPs) and their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties. The SPR peaks of the ITO NPs can be easily tuned by changing the concentration of Sn doping from 3 to 30 mol %. The shortest SPR wavelength of 1618 nm in 10% Sn-doped ITO NPs may reflect the highest electron carrier density in the ITO NPs. The controllable SPR frequencies of metal oxides may offer a novel approach for noble-metal-free SPR applications. Unlike noble-metal nanostructures, ITO has no inter- and intraband transitions in the vis−near-IR region and represents a free-electron conduction, allowing us to systematically study the origin of optical effects arising from the SPRs of conduction electrons.
503 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films was reported and the all-oxide heterostructures with SrRuO3 bottom and tin doped indium oxide top electrodes were characterized by open-circuit voltages ∼08-09V and external quantum efficiencies up to ∼10% when illuminated with the appropriate light.
Abstract: We report a photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films The all-oxide heterostructures with SrRuO3 bottom and tin doped indium oxide top electrodes are characterized by open-circuit voltages ∼08–09 V and external quantum efficiencies up to ∼10% when illuminated with the appropriate light Efficiencies are at least an order of magnitude larger than the maximum efficiency under sunlight (AM 15) thus far reported for ferroelectric-based devices The dependence of the measured open-circuit voltage on film thickness suggests contributions to the large open-circuit voltage from both the ferroelectric polarization and band offsets at the BiFeO3/tin doped indium oxide interface
501 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a control device based on indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/poly (3-hexyl)thiophene: phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester/LiF/Al electrodes (PCE=3.1%).
Abstract: Large-area, continuous, transparent, and highly conducting few-layered graphene films produced by chemical vapor deposition method were used as anode for application in photovoltaic devices. The noncovalent modification of the graphene films with pyrene buanoic acid succidymidyl ester improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to 1.71%. This performance corresponds to ∼55.2% of the PCE of a control device based on indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4–ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/poly(3-hexyl)thiophene: phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester/LiF/Al electrodes (PCE=3.1%). This finding paves the way for the substitution of ITO in photovoltaic and electroluminescent devices with low cost graphene films.
447 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, radio-frequency magnetron sputtering and a sol-gel method were used to study hydrogen generation by photocatalytic water-splitting under visible light irradiation.
377 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that these dense and aligned one-dimensional TiO2 nanostructures are promising for hydrogen generation from water splitting based on PEC cells.
Abstract: Dense and aligned TiO2 nanorod arrays are fabricated using oblique-angle deposition on indium tin oxide (ITO) conducting substrates. The TiO2 nanorods are measured to be 800-1100 nm in length and 45-400 nm in width with an anatase crystal phase. Coverage of the ITO is extremely high with 25 x 10(6) mm(-2) of the TiO2 nanorods. The first use of these dense TiO2 nanorod arrays as working electrodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells used for the generation of hydrogen by water splitting is demonstrated. A number of experimental techniques including UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemistry are used to characterize their structural, optical, and electronic properties. Both UV/Vis and incident-photon-to-current-efficiency measurements show their photoresponse in the visible is limited but with a marked increase around approximately 400 nm. Mott-Schottky measurements give a flat-band potential (V(FB)) of +0.20 V, a carrier density of 4.5 x 10(17) cm(-3), and a space-charge layer of 99 nm. Overall water splitting is observed with an applied overpotential at 1.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl) with a photo-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.1%. The results suggest that these dense and aligned one-dimensional TiO2 nanostructures are promising for hydrogen generation from water splitting based on PEC cells.
370 citations
TL;DR: A roll-to-roll process for polymer solar cells that does not involve indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is presented in this paper, where a commercially available kapton foil with an overlayer of copper was used as the substrate.
314 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, thin films of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) were produced by selenisation of Cu(Zn,Sn) magnetron sputtered metallic precursors for solar cell applications.
Abstract: Polycrystalline thin films of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) were produced by selenisation of Cu(Zn,Sn) magnetron sputtered metallic precursors for solar cell applications. The p-type CZTSe absorber films were found to crystallize in the stannite structure (a = 5·684 A and c = 11·353 A) with an electronic bandgap of 0·9 eV. Solar cells with the indium tin oxide structure (ITO)/ZnO/CdS/CZTSe/Mo were fabricated with device efficiencies up to 3·2% measured under standard AM1·5 illumination. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
286 citations
TL;DR: Here, sol-gel-beta-alumina films are described as transistor gate dielectrics with solution-deposited zinc-oxide-based semiconductors and indium tin oxide (ITO) gate electrodes and an all-solution-processed, low-voltage transparent oxide transistor on an ITO glass substrate.
Abstract: Sodium beta-alumina (SBA) has high two-dimensional conductivity, owing to mobile sodium ions in lattice planes, between which are insulating AlO(x) layers. SBA can provide high capacitance perpendicular to the planes, while causing negligible leakage current owing to the lack of electron carriers and limited mobility of sodium ions through the aluminium oxide layers. Here, we describe sol-gel-beta-alumina films as transistor gate dielectrics with solution-deposited zinc-oxide-based semiconductors and indium tin oxide (ITO) gate electrodes. The transistors operate in air with a few volts input. The highest electron mobility, 28.0 cm2 V(-1) s(-1), was from zinc tin oxide (ZTO), with an on/off ratio of 2 x 10(4). ZTO over a lower-temperature, amorphous dielectric, had a mobility of 10 cm2 V(-1) s(-1). We also used silicon wafer and flexible polyimide-aluminium foil substrates for solution-processed n-type oxide and organic transistors. Using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulphonate) conducting polymer electrodes, we prepared an all-solution-processed, low-voltage transparent oxide transistor on an ITO glass substrate.
TL;DR: In this article, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is investigated as a transparent cathode to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) in inverted polymer solar cells.
TL;DR: In this paper, the formation of ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays was affected by the electrolyte temperature and the applied anodization potential, while little effect from the electrolytes temperature was observed.
Abstract: Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated via electrochemical anodization of high purity Ti foil and Ti thin film coated indium tin oxide (ITO) glass in fluorine containing electrolytes (both aqueous and nonaqueous). The formation of ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays was affected by the electrolyte temperature and the applied anodization potential. In aqueous electrolyte, the anodization potential exerted significant influence on the formation of TiO2 nanotube arrays, while little effect from the electrolyte temperature was observed. In nonaqueous electrolyte, the electrolyte temperature markedly affected the TiO2 nanotube dimensions, while the anodization potential exhibited slight influence in this regard. As a consequence, TiO2 nanotube arrays with tube diameters ranging from 20 to 90 nm and film thicknesses ranging from several hundred nanometers to several micrometers were obtained. The TiO2 nanostructures were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal annealing on the anodized Ti induce...
TL;DR: In this article, transparent, conductive and uniform graphene films have been prepared and used as electrodes of the electrochromic devices of polyaniline, and the performances of the devices with graphene electrodes exhibited slight decrease upon voltage switching while those with ITO electrodes decreased dramatically.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate high open circuit voltage photovoltaic cells achieved by reducing the electron leakage current through the introduction of both organic and inorganic electron blocking layers between the donor layer and the anode contact.
Abstract: We demonstrate high open circuit voltage photovoltaic cells achieved by reducing the electron leakage current through the introduction of both organic and inorganic electron blocking layers between the donor layer and the anode contact. As an example, the blocking layers reduce the dark current in tin (II) phthalocyanine (SnPc)∕C60 solar cells with response across the visible and near infrared spectral region up to a wavelength of 1000nm, is decreased by two orders of magnitude compared to cells lacking the layers, resulting in a doubling of the open circuit voltage. The structure: indium tin oxide/electron blocker/SnPc (100A)∕C60 (400A)/bathocuproine (100A)∕Al, has a power conversion efficiency of (2.1±0.1)% at 1sun, standard AM1.5G solar illumination. This work demonstrates the importance of reducing dark current to achieve high organic thin film photovoltaic cell efficiencies.
TL;DR: In this article, a semitransparent polymer solar cell comprising a transparent sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) top electrode was reported. And the power conversion efficiencies of 1.9% were achieved with a high transmittance of 80% in the red region of the visible spectrum.
Abstract: We reported on highly efficient semitransparent polymer solar cells comprising a transparent sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) top electrode. We used an inverted cell structure with titanium dioxide prepared by atomic layer deposition as electron selective layer and molybdenum oxide (MoO3) as hole extraction layer. Moreover, the MoO3 layer prevents damage to the organic active materials due to the ITO sputtering process. For the semitransparent device, power conversion efficiencies of 1.9% were achieved with a high transmittance of 80% in the red region of the visible spectrum.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported the enhanced performance of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl-C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) bulk heterojunction solar cells with wet deposited interfacial gold nanostructures on their indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces.
TL;DR: In this article, small molecule and polymer photovoltaic cells were fabricated with molybdenum oxide interlayer at the indium tin oxide electrode, and the power conversion efficiencies of small molecule cells were enhanced by a maximum of 38% due to a significant enhancement in the fill factor.
Abstract: Both small molecule and polymer photovoltaic cells were fabricated with molybdenum oxide interlayer at the indium tin oxide electrode. Enhancement in power efficiencies was observed in both small molecule and polymer cells. Specifically, the power conversion efficiencies of small molecule cells with the molybdenum oxide interlayer were enhanced by a maximum of 38% due to a significant enhancement in the fill factor. The improved fill factor is attributed to the reduction in series resistance. Our ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy data indicate that the formation of band bending and the built-in field at the interface due to the interlayer leads to enhancement in hole extraction from the photoactive layer toward the anode.
TL;DR: In this paper, a voltage-induced magnetization switching in the perpendicular direction under the assistance of magnetic fields was demonstrated, which may open a new window of electric-field controlled spintronics devices.
Abstract: Growing demands for the voltage-driven spintronic applications with ultralow-power consumption have led to new interest in exploring the voltage-induced magnetization switching in ferromagnetic metals. In this study, we observed a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy change in Au(001)/ultrathin Fe80Co20(001)/MgO(001)/polyimide/indium tin oxide (ITO) junctions, and succeeded in realizing a clear switching of magnetic easy axis between in-plane and perpendicular directions. Furthermore, employing a perpendicularly magnetized film, voltage-induced magnetization switching in the perpendicular direction under the assistance of magnetic fields was demonstrated. These pioneering results may open a new window of electric-field controlled spintronics devices.
TL;DR: Recent studies of one of the most common transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), indium-tin oxide (ITO), which is the transparent bottom contact in many OPV technologies are reviewed and the use of acid activation, small-molecule chemisorption, and electrodeposition of conducting polymer films to tune the surface free energy, the effective work function, and Electrochemical reactivity of ITO surfaces are described.
Abstract: The recent improvements in the power conversion efficiencies of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) promise to make these technologies increasingly attractive alternatives to more established photovoltaic technologies. OPVs typically consist of photoactive layers 20-100 nm thick sandwiched between both transparent oxide and metallic electrical contacts. Ideal OPVs rely on ohmic top and bottom contacts to harvest photogenerated charges without compromising the power conversion efficiency of the OPV. Unfortunately, the electrical contact materials (metals and metal oxides) and the active organic layers in OPVs are often incompatible and may be poorly optimized for harvesting photogenerated charges. Therefore, further optimization of the chemical and physical stabilities of these metal oxide materials with organic materials will be an essential component of the development of OPV technologies. The energetic and kinetic barriers to charge injection/collection must be minimized to maximize OPV power conversion efficiencies. In this Account, we review recent studies of one of the most common transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), indium-tin oxide (ITO), which is the transparent bottom contact in many OPV technologies. These studies of the surface chemistry and surface modification of ITO are also applicable to other TCO materials. Clean, freshly deposited ITO is intrinsically reactive toward H(2)O, CO, CO(2), etc. and is often chemically and electrically heterogeneous in the near-surface region. Conductive-tip atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) studies reveal significant spatial variability in electrical properties. We describe the use of acid activation, small-molecule chemisorption, and electrodeposition of conducting polymer films to tune the surface free energy, the effective work function, and electrochemical reactivity of ITO surfaces. Certain electrodeposited poly(thiophenes) show their own photovoltaic activity or can be used as electronically tunable substrates for other photoactive layers. For certain photoactive donor layers (phthalocyanines), we have used the polarity of the oxide surface to accelerate dewetting and "nanotexturing" of the donor layer to enhance OPV performance. These complex surface chemistries will make oxide/organic interfaces one of the key focal points for research in new OPV technologies.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cells using numerical simulations and found that the differences between the device physics of cells with p- and n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers are substantial.
Abstract: This work analyzes heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cells using numerical simulations. The differences between the device physics of cells with p- and n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers are substantial. HIT solar cells with n-type wafers essentially form a n/p/n structure, where tunneling across the junction heterointerfaces is a critical transport mechanism required to attain performance exceeding 20%. For HIT cells with p-type wafers, only tunneling at the back-contact barrier may be important. For p-wafer cells, the hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) between the indium tin oxide (ITO) and crystalline silicon may act as a passivating buffer layer but, otherwise, does not significantly contribute to device performance. For n-wafer cells, the carrier concentration and band alignment of this a-Si:H layer are critical to device performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, a modified sol-gel method was used to prepare titanium dioxide and multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) composites that were subsequently deposited onto indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass plates.
TL;DR: In this paper, an inverted organic solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM) was fabricated with an ultrathin Ca electron-transporting layer and MoO3 hole-transport layer.
Abstract: An inverted organic solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM) was fabricated with an ultrathin Ca electron-transporting layer and MoO3 hole-transporting layer. The 1 nm Ca on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode modifies the work function of ITO suitable for electron extraction. An appropriate thickness of MoO3 hole extraction layer is also essential to effectively prevent exciton quenching at the Ag anode, yet not introduce much voltage loss and series resistance. The optical field distribution across the active layer was also simulated to discuss the effect of MoO3 thickness on the photocurrent. The maximum power conversion efficiency obtained was 3.55% under simulated 100 mW/cm2 (AM 1.5G) solar irradiation.
TL;DR: In this paper, an effective antireflection (AR) coating, minimized recombination loss, and good Ohmic contacts are particularly important for next generation photovoltaics, hence, demand an efficiency boosting mechanism in order to render solar energy cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity.
Abstract: Global-warming issues coupled with high oil prices have become a major driving force for the use of advanced solar power technology, where a key component lies in the development of high-efficiency and low-cost photovoltaic cells. Next generation photovoltaics, hence, demand an efficiency-boosting mechanism in order to render solar energy cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity. Fundamentally, the conversion efficiency of a solar cell depends on the photon absorption, carrier separation, and carrier collection. Therefore, an effective antireflection (AR) coating, minimized recombination loss, and good Ohmic contacts are particularly important. Metal grids that inevitably block the transmission of solar energy also require optimization in order to reduce the series resistance. The trade-off between the electrode and the AR coating areas is one of the efficiency-limiting factors in a conventional solar cell. The conventional AR coating is usually composed of a quarter wavelength stack of dielectrics with different refractive indices. Broad angular and spectral AR is achievable at the price of multiple layers. Over the past few years, versatile subwavelength structures (SWS) have emerged as promising candidates for AR coatings, due to the characteristics of zero-order gratings, or the so-called moth-eye effects. However, the fabrication costs, which involve either electron-beam (e-beam) lithography or various etching processes, can be significant. In addition, the resulting surface-recombination loss due to dry or wet etching could further hinder the applications of SWS in commercial solar cells. Recently, multiple studies have been carried out on indium tin oxide (ITO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanostructures employing oblique-angle deposition methods, where the refractive indices of the nanoporous materials can be engineered by adjusting the air volume ratio. Still, thematerials requiremultiple layers to effectively suppress the Fresnel reflection.
TL;DR: An all-solid-state electrochromic (EC) device based on NiO/WO3 complementary structure and solid polyelectrolyte was manufactured for modulating the optical transmittance.
TL;DR: The growth of layers of indium tin oxide nanowires are reported that show optimum electronic and photonic properties and demonstrate their use as fully transparent top contacts in the visible to near-infrared region for light-emitting devices.
Abstract: Thin layers of indium tin oxide are widely used as transparent coatings and electrodes in solar energy cells, flat-panel displays, antireflection coatings, radiation protection and lithium-ion battery materials, because they have the characteristics of low resistivity, strong absorption at ultraviolet wavelengths, high transmission in the visible, high reflectivity in the far-infrared and strong attenuation in the microwave region. However, there is often a trade-off between electrical conductivity and transparency at visible wavelengths for indium tin oxide and other transparent conducting oxides. Here, we report the growth of layers of indium tin oxide nanowires that show optimum electronic and photonic properties and demonstrate their use as fully transparent top contacts in the visible to near-infrared region for light-emitting devices.
TL;DR: Yang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed a multilayer structure for organic white-light-emitting diodes (OWLEDs), which can be easily produced by vacuum deposition with very thin emissive and transport layers.
Abstract: Organic white-light-emitting diodes (OWLEDs) have attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in fullcolor flat panel displays, back-lighting sources for liquid-crystal displays, and solid-state lighting. [1‐3] To achieve high-efficiency OWLEDs, efficient and balanced electron and hole injection and transport from cathode and anode are essential. This results in commonly used multilayer device structures, including the transparent conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) anode, holetransport/injection layer (HTL), emissive layer (EML), electrontransport/injection layer (ETL), and metal cathode. For small molecule OWLEDs, this kind of multilayer structure can be easily produced by vacuum deposition with very thin emissive and transport layers to maximize light output and minimize power consumption of the devices. As a result, vacuum deposited OWLEDs have exhibited higher efficiencies than standard incandescent light sources (13‐20 lm W � 1 ). [2‐7] Polymer OWLEDs combining the advantages of simpler fabrication and lower production cost, especially for the large-area devices, are particularly attractive, because they can be fabricated by simple techniqueslikespin-coatingorink-jetprinting. [8‐20] However,itis very difficult to realize well-controlled multilayer device structures for polymer OWLEDs. Therefore, polymer OWLEDs often exhibit poorer performance than those obtained from small molecule OWLEDs. Only very few polymer OWLEDs reported so far have efficiencies comparable to that of the incandescent light bulbs. [14,19] Yang et al. have recently reported high-performance polymer OWLEDs with a power efficiency (PE) of 16 lm W � 1 using Cs2CO3 as the electron-injection/hole blocking layer in the devices. [14] By using an alcohol-soluble conjugated polymer as ETL,we havealso shown high-efficiency polymer phosphorescent OWLEDs with a PE of 14.5 lm W � 1 . [19]
TL;DR: The excellent optical and electrical properties, stability, compatibility with active materials, process simplicity, and potential low cost make UTMFs high-quality transparent electrodes for the optoelectronics industry, seriously competing with widely used transparent conductive oxides, such as ITO.
Abstract: Transparent electrodes made of single-component ultrathin (<10 nm) metal films (UTMFs) are obtained by sputtering deposition. We show that the optical transparency of the deposited films (chromium and nickel) is comparable to that of indium tin oxide (ITO) in the visible and near-infrared range (0.4-2.5 microm), while it can be significantly higher in the ultraviolet (175-400 nm) and mid-infrared (2.5-25 microm) regions. Despite their very small thickness, the deposited UTMFs are also uniform and continuous over the 10 cm substrate, as it is confirmed by the measured low electrical resistivity. The excellent optical and electrical properties, stability, compatibility with active materials, process simplicity, and potential low cost make UTMFs high-quality transparent electrodes for the optoelectronics industry, seriously competing with widely used transparent conductive oxides, such as ITO.
TL;DR: In this paper, the dependence of electronic and optical properties on the Ag thickness in transparent conductive indium tin oxide (ITO)-Ag-ITO (IMI) multilayer films was reported.
Abstract: We report the dependence of electronic and optical properties on the Ag thickness in transparent conductive indium tin oxide (ITO)-Ag-ITO (IMI) multilayer films deposited on polyethylene naphthalate flexible substrate by sputtering at room temperature. The electrical properties (such as carrier concentration, mobility, and resistivity) changed significantly with incorporation of Ag between the ITO layers. Comparison of sheet resistance of the IMI multilayers and the calculated sheet resistance of the Ag midlayer indicates that most of the conduction is through the Ag film. The critical thickness of Ag to form a continuous conducting layer is found to be 8 nm using electrical and optical analysis. A conduction mechanism is proposed to elucidate the mobility variation with increased Ag thickness. Carrier transport is limited by either interface scattering or grain-boundary scattering depending on the thickness of the Ag midlayer. Interface scattering is dominant for thinner (5.5–7 nm) Ag and grain-boundary ...