Combining high conductivity with complete optical transparency: A band structure approach

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208-3112, USA

Received: 29 September 2004
Accepted: 13 December 2004

Abstract

A comparison of the structural, optical and electronic properties of the recently discovered transparent conducting oxide (TCO), nanoporous , with those of the conventional TCOs (such as -doped ) indicates that this material belongs conceptually to a new class of transparent conductors. For this class of materials, we formulate criteria for the successful combination of high electrical conductivity with complete transparency in the visible range and emphasize the significant correlation between their structural characteristics and electronic and optical properties. Our analysis suggests that this set of requirements can be met for a group of novel materials called electrides which may have desired features such as connected structural cavities, large bandgaps and near-metallic electronic conductivity.