{"id":4746,"date":"2026-08-18T02:18:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T02:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/project-ltmetal.local\/insights\/ito-%ed%83%80%ea%b2%9f%ec%9d%b4%eb%9e%80-%ed%88%ac%eb%aa%85%ec%a0%84%ea%b7%b9%ec%9d%84-%eb%a7%8c%eb%93%9c%eb%8a%94-%ed%95%b5%ec%8b%ac-%ec%86%8c%ec%9e%ac\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T05:53:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T05:53:05","slug":"what-is-an-ito-target-core-material-for-making-transparent-electrodes","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/ltmetal08.dayworks.kr\/zh-hans\/insights\/what-is-an-ito-target-core-material-for-making-transparent-electrodes\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an ITO target? Core material for making transparent electrodes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is an ITO target? Core material for making transparent electrodes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While looking at smartphone screens, you might wonder about this once. Screens need to emit light, but how is electricity transmitted? Common metals conduct electricity well but block light. Conversely, glass allows light to pass through easily but hardly conducts electricity. To satisfy these two different conditions at the same time, the material used is a transparent electrode. And a typical transparent electrode material is ITO. In this article, we will easily understand what ITO is and where ITO targets are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1. What is ITO?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ITO is an abbreviation for Indium Tin Oxide. Made from indium oxide with added tin components, its two main features are as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. It allows light to pass through relatively well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. It can transmit electricity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Simply put, ITO is a material like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A transparent electrode material that transmits light while conducting electricity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Thanks to these characteristics, ITO is a transparent electrode material that needs to display images while also transmitting electrical signals. It is utilized in displays and touchscreens, among other applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    2. Why are transparent electrodes necessary?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s take a smartphone display as an example. To operate the screen, electrical signals must be transmitted through the electrodes. At the same time, the light emitted from the display must reach the user. Using ordinary metal electrodes at this point can block the light. However, removing the electrodes makes it difficult for the screen to operate normally. Therefore, the display requires electrodes that perform both functions simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. They must allow light to pass through.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. They need to transmit electrical signals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      ITO can satisfy these two conditions and is a representative material for transparent electrodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      3. Are ITO and TCO the same thing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The term that frequently appears with ITO is TCO. TCO is Transparent Conductive Oxide. ITO and TCO are not exactly the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • TCO is a broad category of materials called transparent conductive oxides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • ITO is a representative material included within TCO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        You can understand ITO as one of the various transparent conductive oxides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        4. Where is ITO used?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        ITO is used in products where light and electricity need to pass simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Display: In LCDs, electrodes are needed that do not obstruct the screen light but can transmit electrical signals. ITO is used as a transparent electrode in these parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Touchscreen: Transparent electrodes are also needed for touch sensors in smartphones and tablets. When users touch the screen, electrical changes occur. Touch sensors detect these changes to identify the touched position.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • OLED: Light generated inside the OLED must exit outside. Therefore, the electrode in the direction of light emission needs to be transparent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • ITO is a representative transparent electrode material used in OLEDs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Solar cells: Solar cells generate electricity by receiving external light. Therefore, a transparent electrode that can transmit light and deliver generated electricity is required. TCO materials, including ITO, are also used in solar cells for these roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n\n\n\n

          5. How is the ITO target used?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          This is a part that many people commonly confuse. ITO targets are not finished electrodes that go directly into displays. ITO targets are raw materials used to create a thin ITO film on substrates like glass. The entire process can be simply summarized as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • ITO target \u2192 Sputtering \u2192 ITO thin film on substrate \u2192 Transparent electrode<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            In other words, the ITO target is not a part that is directly visible in the final product, It is a core material used in the manufacturing process of making transparent electrodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n\n\n\n

            6. What is sputtering?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Sputtering is a process that forms a thin film on the substrate using an ITO target. Inside a vacuum chamber, ions collide with the ITO target surface, causing material to be emitted. The emitted material moves to the substrate and deposits very thinly. To organize this in order:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Plasma is generated inside the equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Ions generated in the plasma collide with the ITO target.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Material from the target surface is emitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. The emitted material deposits on the substrate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. A thin ITO film is formed on the substrate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Simply put, it is as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              A process that very thinly and evenly deposits ITO target material onto the substrate.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

              The resulting ITO thin film is used as a transparent electrode in displays, OLEDs, and solar cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n\n\n\n

              7. How are ITO targets made?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The general process for making ITO targets is as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • IO powder -> mixing & drying -> molding -> sintering -> processing -> bonding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                First, materials of indium oxide and tin oxide groups are prepared and mixed in a consistent ratio. Raw materials that are mixed and dried are shaped into the desired form and then sintered at high temperature. Sintering is the process of converting powder form raw materials into a solid, dense ceramic structure. After processing to fit the equipment, the size and surface are finished, bonded, and then undergo quality inspection to complete the ITO target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n\n\n\n

                8. What is an ITO target?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                ITO is a representative transparent electrode material that can conduct electricity while allowing light to pass through. The ITO target is not the ITO electrode itself, but rather a raw material used in the sputtering process to form a thin ITO film on the substrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                To summarize the entire process again: ITO is a leading transparent electrode material that transmits light while conducting electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • ITO target \u2192 sputtering process \u2192 ITO thin film formation \u2192 utilization as a transparent electrode.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  To consistently produce good ITO thin films, it is essential to manage not only the purity of the target but also its composition, density, uniformity, and surface condition. Additionally, the quality of the target as well as the deposition equipment and process conditions must also be comprehensively managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Although not directly visible in the finished products, ITO targets are essential process materials needed to produce transparent electrodes for displays, touchscreen panels, OLEDs, and solar cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  In the future, the LT Metal blog will provide information about the targets and technology of the thin film materials division. We will introduce the various updates from our business division one by one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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