Conductive Glass Slides

Glass coated in Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is conductive and optically transparent, making it highly suitable for use in microscopy slides.

Many universities worldwide utilise ITO coated glass slides and Diamond Coatings are the trusted supplier of microscope slides for many of these establishments.

As well as its popular use in microscope slides, ITO coatings are also used for coverslips and beam splitters in fluorescence microscopy.

ITO glass slides are used across many research and development, medical and scientific applications.

The use of ITO coatings extends across many other industries and sectors including aerospace, automotive and entertainment.

ITO Coated Glass Slides

By applying a highly conductive, transparent ITO layer to the surface of glass slides, the electronic and optoelectronic properties required for scientific, R&D and medical applications can be met.

Due to the importance of using a conductive glass slide in microscopy, indium tin oxide coatings are often used due to the high level of conductivity and transparency offered.

Soda lime glass is most commonly used as the glass substrate for microscope slides, due to its low processing costs, chemical stability and hardness.

Soda lime glass can also be thermally and/or chemically strengthened or supplied as standard. The glass can also be cut to offer diverse sizes, if required.

One issue arising from the use of soda lime glass in microscopy slides is the diffusion of sodium ions into the ITO layer that can occur over time, adversely affecting the quality and durability of the slides.

Diamond Coatings, market leading manufacturers and suppliers of glass slides, developed a solution to this problem by incorporating a silicon oxide barrier layer to inhibit the sodium ion diffusion between the glass and coating.

The longevity and quality of ITO coated glass microscope slides is increased by the use of the SiO₂ layer.  

Supplier of ITO Coated Glass Microscope Slides

Diamond Coatings offer a wide range of premium quality ITO coated glass microscope glass slides and coverslips.

A range of grades and sizes are available that offer high levels of transmittance, with various dimensions, thickness and resistances offered.

As well as offering standard sizes, we also welcome customer specific requests and can supply slides to a maximum size of 400 x 500 mm.

ITO microscope slides can be also be supplied with silver polymers/ busbars for ease of electrical current application, if required.

Contact us

For more detailed information or to discuss your specific requirements, please feel free to contact our technical advisors today.