High-temperature stability of Nb₁₂O₂₉ transparent conductor

The transparent conductor Nb₁₂O₂₉ was found to exhibit high-temperature stability superior to that of conventional transparent conducting oxides (TCOs). The Nb₁₂O₂₉ thin film was fabricated on a glass substrate, followed by annealing at 1000 C in vacuum, and a high conductivity of 3.0 × 10² Ω^{- 1} cm ^{- 1} at room temperature was maintained even after vacuum annealing at 800 C. Although the conductivity of the Nb₁₂O₂₉ film was decreased by annealing at 300 C in air, the initial high conductivity was recovered upon subsequent vacuum annealing. These properties indicate that Nb₁₂O₂₉ is a promising material applicable in cases where conventional TCOs cannot be used.