Fabrication and Characterization of Polyester Fabric Surface‐Coated Indium Tin Oxide for Infrared Shielding Application

ABSTRACT Indium tin oxide (ITO) has attracted considerable in optoelectronics for wide bandgap, high conductivity, and infrared reflectance. Herein, 800 nm ITO films were deposited on common polyester fabric using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering to prepare durable infrared stealth polyester textiles. The prepared ITO films deposited fabric surface exhibited an emissivity of 0.38 in the 8–14 μm range, indicating infrared stealth performance. Additionally, the solar shielding ability in the 0.8–1.6 μm range was improved by 50%. The X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) results show the desired (400) crystalline plane of the ITO film. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal a triangular cone‐shaped granular morphology on the film's surface. Significantly, The ITO coating adhered well to the polyester, showing no peeling after 12 domestic washes, despite some friction damage, and maintaining its infrared stealth performance. Moreover, the hand feel, tensile strength, and breathability of the fabric were not significantly affected by ITO coating, while improvements were observed in the fabric's water repellency, antistatic properties, and UV resistance. This study demonstrates that controlled RF magnetron sputtering can be used to fabricate durable ITO/polyester composites with infrared stealth properties and high‐performance wearability, offering a practical approach for advanced textile applications.