Perovskite defect might lead to transparent conductor A defect found in barium stannate (BaSnO3) perovskite crystals could one day lead to a new type of transparent conductive film, according to scientists at the University of Minnesota. The defect is a one-dimensional (line) defect that runs through single crystals of the material aligned with one of the crystal axis. “The conductive nature and preferential direction of these metallic line defects mean we can make a material that is transparent like glass and at the same time very nicely directionally conductive like a metal,” said chemical engineer Professor Andre Mkhoyan. “This gives us the best of two worlds. We can make windows or new types of touch screens transparent and at the same time conductive. This is very exciting.”