Conductive Glass Slides

Conductive Glass Slides

Diamond Coatings have been producing conductive glass slides for years now, utilising Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coatings which provide the electrical conductivity whilst retaining the transparency required.

Why do you need conductive glass slides?

A study concluded that growing cells on conductive ITO glass slides provided secondary electron and backscatter electron images without the need to charge the specimen. It was also stated that “detailed features of actin cytoskeletal and mitochondrial structures in mouse embryonic fibroblasts” were revealed.

ITO glass as a substrate for cell culture allows a specimen to be viewed using electron microscopy, without the need for the specimen being charged.

Why ITO?

Indium Tin Oxide coatings are perfect for glass slides as ITO is highly conductive as well as being totally transparent. ITO glass is used in a multitude of environments and applications, including military, medical and auto/aviation industries.

ITO coatings are all around us. If you are reading this blog on a tablet or phone, there is a good chance that your screen is using ITO to provide the touch/sensor functionality!

The conductive glass slides are used in research and development facilities, as well as the leading universities worldwide. Diamond Coatings have become the trusted supplier to many of these.

ITO Conductive Glass Slides

These are commonly produced using soda lime glass as they are economical to manufacture and have good chemical stability and hardness. This can be thermally or chemically strengthened if required. The glass can be cut to different sizes.

A negative to soda lime glass is the diffusion of Sodium ions into the Indium Tin Oxide layer, which will occur over time. This will affect the slides performance and lifetime. At Diamond Coatings, we have developed a solution to this issue. As an enhanced feature, available on request, we now offer a silicon oxide barrier layer to prevent the diffusion.

We have a range of sizes and grades available offering high levels of transmittance in various dimensions, thickness and resistances. Diamond Coatings also supply on request slides up to a maximum size of 400 x 500mm.

To support our range of ITO conductive glass slides, we also supply ITO coated coverslips.

Do you want to know more?

If you have a specific query relating to our conductive glass slides, or ITO coatings in general, please get in touch.