Product Overview

TGV Sapphire​​ is a transparent conductive glass material based on sapphire (Al₂O₃) substrates, coated with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films (e.g., ITO, AZO) via magnetron sputtering. TGV Sapphire combines sapphire’s ultra-high hardness, high-temperature resistance, and TCO films’ conductivity and transparency, making it ideal for high-performance electronic devices in extreme environments.

Principle​

Using laser drilling or dry etching, vertical vias with high aspect ratios are created in the sapphire substrate. These vias are metallized to enable vertical electrical signal transmission, while maintaining the sapphire’s optical clarity and mechanical integrity.

Sapphire Substrate​​: Sapphire (Al₂O₃) is one of the hardest oxide materials in nature, offering exceptional chemical stability, high thermal conductivity (~40 W/m·K), and a wide optical bandgap (~9.9 eV), enabling resistance to high temperatures and harsh chemical environments.

​​Transparent Conductive Layer​​: A nano-scale TCO film (e.g., ITO) is deposited on the sapphire surface via physical vapor deposition (PVD), balancing high transmittance (>90%) and low sheet resistance (≤10 Ω/sq).

Technical Challenges

Extreme Hardness
Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9 (second only to diamond), making traditional mechanical drilling tools (e.g., tungsten carbide drills) prone to rapid wear or even ineffective.

Brittle Fracture Risk
Sapphire’s single-crystal structure makes it susceptible to micro-cracks, edge chipping, or delamination during machining, compromising hole-wall quality and device reliability.

Micro-Hole Requirements
For LED chips or MEMS sensors, holes with diameters <100 μm are often needed, requiring precision within ±1 μm.

Thermal Damage Control
High-temperature processes (e.g., laser drilling) may cause localized melting or thermal stress cracks.

Specification

Applications​

Consumer Electronics​​: Scratch-resistant AR/VR displays, flexible OLED backplanes.

​​Optoelectronics​​: Laser window components, UV sensors, high-power LED substrates.

​​Automotive​​: Automotive displays, LiDAR optical components.

​​Aerospace​​: Radiation-resistant satellite parts and spacecraft windows.

Q&A

Q1​​: What’s the difference between TGV Sapphire and ordinary conductive glass?
​​A1​​: TGV Sapphire is 10x harder than regular glass, withstands temperatures up to 600℃, and operates in harsh chemical environments.

​​Q2​​: Can TGV Sapphire be customized (e.g., shape cutting, thickness adjustment)?
​​A2​​: Yes, customizable dimensions, thickness (0.5mm~5mm), and conductive layer patterns are available.

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​​Q3​​: Does extreme temperature affect TGV Sapphire conductivity?
​​A3​​: Sapphire’s CTE matches silicon chips, ensuring stable conductivity under high temperatures.

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