New ITO Coatings combine electrical conductivity with high optical transmission

Jena, July 2026: asphericon is expanding its coating portfolio with the addition of ITO coatings. This technology combines high optical transmission with electrical conductivity. Typical applications include transparent EMI shielding for sensitive optical systems and optical heating functions to prevent fogging or icing on optical surfaces.

Where electrical functionality meets optical precision

Indium tin oxide (short: ITO) belongs to the class of transparent conductive oxides. Unlike conventional optical coatings, ITO coatings must simultaneously meet two distinct requirements: transmitting light with minimal losses while conducting electrical current.

asphericon has developed, qualified and integrated a proprietary process for this purpose into its existing coating production. The new ITO coatings achieve:

• Sheet resistance below 12 Ω/sq (adjustable on request)
• Transmission of 97.5% (450 - 750 nm)
• Reflectance below 0.5% across the same spectral range

Absorption is as low as 2 - 3%. An integrated anti-reflection coating further reduces optical losses and supports overall transmission performance.

Expanding the coating portfolio

The new technology complements asphericon’s existing coating offering, which encompasses dielectric and metallic layers from the UV range through the visible spectrum and into the long-wave infrared (up to 12 µm).

Both plano and curved substrates from a wide range of optical materials can be coated. Development, manufacturing and qualifications of all coating systems are carried out in Europe. Environmental testing and optical characterization are performed in-house. Customers benefit from a fully integrated service offering along the entire optical value chain, from optical design through manufacturing and coating to metrological documentation.

“The demands placed on modern optical systems are increasingly extending beyond pure optical performance to include electrically functional coating systems. With our ITO coatings, we can now address these requirements within our existing manufacturing and coating processes,” says Sebastian Henkel, VP Global Sales & Procurement at asphericon. “Developing this technology required extensive process development and qualification work. The result is a solution that can be manufactured reproducibly and deployed reliably. It targets applications where electrical functionality and optical transmission converge from EMI shielding and heating functions in aerospace or defense, to display and OLED technologies, photovoltaics, switchable glazing and conductive substrates for microfluidic or biological systems.”

About asphericon

asphericon is a globally leading technology company specializing in aspheric optics and optical systems. Using self-developed and patented technology for controlling CNC grinding and polishing machines, asphericon manufactures optical components from prototype through to large-scale production. Its range of services covers optical design, manufacturing and coating, full-aperture interferometric measurement, documentation and characterization, and the integration of complete optical systems.

Further information

Dr. Thomas Hegenbart
Tel.: +49-3641-3100500
Fax: +49-3641-3100501
E-Mail: presse[at]asphericon.com