Indium tin oxide (ITO) remains the leading material technology for displays and touch screens, driven by ITO’s excellent electrical conductivity and transparency. However, there are drawbacks: as indium is a rare metal, pricing can be volatile and availability remains somewhat of a concern.

This has led to the development of a wide range of technologies to dethrone ITO. These include metal mesh, silver nanowire and conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes and graphene,  among others. Cambrios Technologies and C3Nano among the leaders in the silver nanowire space. Rolith is in the metal mesh field, and graphene is a relatiively new technology.

I came across a recent study by Dr. Jennifer Colegrove at Touch Display Research that offers some excellent insights into the ITO replacement market. The study, “ITO Replacement—Non-ITO Transparent Conductor Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast Report,” its fifth edition, concludes that the market could reach $10.9 billion by 2022. Dr. Colegrove notes that there are challenges ahead in terms of technology, but also sees growing interest from OEMs in replacing ITO. This is a market that definitely bears watching.