ITO market to grow by USD 239.8 million 2024-2028, driven RE, AI

The global Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) market size is estimated to grow by USD 239.8 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Increasing dependency on renewable energy sources is driving market growth, with a trend towards increased deposition of silver nanoparticles on it. 

However, shortage in indium production poses a challenge.Key market players include Amalgamated Metal Corp. PLC, American Elements, Diamond Coatings Inc., ENAM OPTOELECTRONIC MATERIAL CO. LTD., ENEOS Holdings Inc., Guangxi Crystal Union Photoelectric Materials Co. Ltd., Indium Corp., Knight Optical Ltd., Kurt J Lesker Co., Merck KGaA, MITSUI MINING and SMELTING CO. LTD., NANOGRAFI Co. Inc., Nanoshel LLC, Nitto Denko Corp., NYACOL Nano Technologies Inc., OPCO Laboratory Inc., Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd., Tosoh Corp., Ulvac Inc., and Umicore SA.

Market driver
Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conducting oxide material widely used in various industries due to its superior optical and electrical properties. One method to enhance these properties is by depositing noble metal nanoparticles, such as silver, onto ITO surfaces.

Silver nanoparticles, in particular, exhibit unique properties like large surface energies and quantum confinement effect, leading to strong responses in the visible light region. The plasma-assisted hot-filament evaporation (PAHFE) technique is used to produce high-density crystalline silver nanoparticles on ITO, controlling their size and distribution. 

This improvement in ITO's properties opens up new applications, including touchscreens, solar cells, and sensors, driving the growth of the Indium Tin Oxide market during the forecast period. 

Indium tin oxide is a transparent semiconductor made from Indium, Tin, and Oxygen. It's produced using methods like electron beam evaporation and sputter deposition. ITO is known for its high transparency and conductivity, making it ideal for various applications. 

These include touch panels, sensors, flat panels, electroluminescent displays, photovoltaic cells, and heat reflective coatings. ITO's physical properties make it excellent for electromagnetic induction shielding, ultraviolet resistance, and colorfastness. In electronics, ITO is used in touchscreens, shield glass, and advanced driver assistance systems in smart devices, screens (televisions, tablets, smartphones, cameras, computer monitors), and even in smart automobiles. 

Its uses extend to construction with applications in gas sensors and LCD displays. ITO is a versatile material, contributing significantly to the semiconductor industry. 

Market challenges
Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a crucial material in the electronics industry, accounting for 90% of its composition. However, the availability of indium, the primary component of ITO, is uncertain due to trade restrictions and quotas imposed by major producers like China. 

These policies have resulted in indium supply shortages, potentially impacting the ITO market and downstream industries. Recycling and advanced refining technologies offer potential solutions to restore the supply-demand balance. Despite minor imbalances, the long-term indium supply is expected to pose challenges to the ITO market growth during the forecast period.

ITO is a transparent conducting oxide widely used in various industries, including electronics, construction, and energy. In flat panels, ITO is essential for LCD displays, electroluminescent displays, and touchscreens. In the photovoltaic sector, it's used in solar cells. ITO also finds applications in heat reflective coatings, shield glass, and RF interference shielding. However, challenges persist. 

Flat panels face intense competition from OLED and QLED technologies. In electroluminescent displays and photovoltaic cells, ITO's high cost is a concern. ITO's use in touchscreens and heat reflective coatings is threatened by alternatives like IZO and FTO. 

ITO's physical properties, such as UV resistance and electronic conductivity, make it valuable in various sectors. In electronics, it's used in semiconductors and smart devices like televisions, tablets, smartphones, cameras, computer monitors, and smart automobiles. 

In construction, ITO is used in energy-efficient windows. In the semiconductor industry, low-temperature vacuum deposition is a potential solution to reduce ITO's production costs. Despite these challenges, the growing demand for mobile phones, flexible electronics, and energy-efficient technologies is expected to drive the ITO market forward.

ITO report extensively covers market segmentation by technology, such as sputtering, vacuum evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, spray pyrolysis, others, etc. Applications include electrochromic displays and LCDs, touch panels, PV, transparent electrodes, others, etc.