Flexible transparent heaters with heating films made of indium tin oxide nanoparticles

In this study, flexible transparent heaters with heating films made of indium tin oxide (ITO) are fabricated on plastic substrates. The optical transmittance of a representative flexible heater is above 90% in the visible and near infrared regions. The steady-state temperature is determined by the bias voltage and reaches about 180 degrees C at a bias voltage of 50 V. The heat-generating properties are nearly the same before and after the application of tensile strain. Furthermore, the defrosting ability is demonstrated using a block of dry-ice.