The unusual properties of indium–tin oxide (ITO)

   Indium–tin oxide (ITO) is indium oxide doped with tin oxide.   Thin films of ITO have commercially valuable properties: it is transparent, electrically conducting and reflects IR radiation. Applications of ITO are varied. It is used as a coating material for flat-panel computer displays, for coating architectural glass panels, and in electrochromic devices. Coating motor vehicle and aircraft windscreens and motor vehicle rear windows allows them to be electrically heated for de-icing purposes. A thin film of ITO (or related material) on the cockpit canopy of an aircraft such as the stealth plane renders this part of the plane radar-silent, contributing to the sophisticated design that allows the stealth plane to go undetected by radar.