ITO Conductive Ink: Advances in Materials, Preparation, and Potential Sensor Applications

The global conductive ink market size has been expected around a CAGR of 4.1%, by value and the market is estimated to be USD 3.0 to 3.7 billion in 2020-2025. Indium tin oxide (ITO) ink is used as conducting ink and in engineering applications. Therefore, the review is aimed to provide more insights into various reactants precursors, conditions, and synthesis procedure for the development of ITO nano inks. The merits and demerits of the various methods such as hydrothermal, solvothermal, spray pyrolysis, sol-gel, and electrophoretic deposition, magnetron sputtering etc., used for making ITO nanoparticles were discussed in detail. Further, various ink properties, parameters, and processes for development of ITO nano ink proposed by different research groups is also discussed. The suitable conditions to print the prepared ITO ink on suitable substrate using ink-jet fabrication methodology discussed by various research groups is also explored. Also, the review focusses on the study of the properties of the printed ink such as transmittance and the sheet resistance are also studied. Finally, the sensitivity, response, and recovery of the ITO coated electrode developed for various sensor applications is discussed in detail.