Development of Transparent Conductive Oxides for Future Devices

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are key components in a wide range of optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, sensors, displays, and communication systems. Their performance requires balancing two competing properties: high electrical conductivity and optical transparency. As performance requirements continue to increase, material availability and cost are motivating the development of alternative TCO materials. In this work, the correlated metallic oxide SrVO₃ (SVO) is explored as an alternative TCO platform, combining high electrical conductivity and optical transparency with earth-abundant, low-cost constituent elements.
This research addresses several challenges involved in translating SVO from a promising material into a controllable functional system. First, the stability and control of the SVO surface are investigated, from preserving the intrinsic state with protective oxide caps to recovering degraded surfaces through reconstruction. Second, the optical and electronic properties are tuned through partial substitution of V by Ti in SrTixV1-xO3, enabling systematic control of the transparency–conductivity balance by exploiting proximity to the metal–insulator transition. Finally, the work considers transparent conductor design from an application-relevant perspective, linking material properties to device-specific electrical and optical requirements.
Together, these studies establish a framework for understanding, engineering, and evaluating correlated oxides as functional transparent conductors.

Ph.D. student Under the supervision of Prof. Lior Kornblum.