Comparison study of ITO thin films deposited by sputtering at room temperature onto polymer and glass substrates

Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films have been grown simultaneously onto glass and polymer substrates at room temperature by sputtering from ceramic target. The structure, morphology and electro-optical characteristics of the ITO/glass and ITO/polymer samples have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, four-point electrical measurements and spectrophotometry. In the selected experimental conditions, the polycrystalline ITO coating shows higher average grain size and higher conductivity, with similar visible transmittance, onto the polymer than onto the glass substrate.