Ultra-high multi-layer barriers on wheathering stable substrates for outdoor application

Flexible and organic electronic devices for photovoltaic, display and lighting application attract growing interest in applied research and industry. However, flexible devices need to be encapsulated with a permeation barrier system for their protection against degradation caused by harmful gases such as water vapor and oxygen. The required properties of the barrier system - commonly a coated polymer film - strongly depend on the application environment of the device. Both photovoltaic devices and OLED devices in automotive application or building integration require outdoor stability against weathering, UV light and high temperature (damp-heat-test at 85°C / 85 % r.h.). This paper focuses on the adaption of a roll-to-roll manufactured ultra-high multi-layer permeation barrier film for outdoor application by replacing the commonly used PET polymer substrate with weathering stable fluoropolymer films (such as ETFE and PVDF). The barrier technology itself is based on reactively sputtered oxide barrier layers and a wet-coated interlayer of inorganic-organic hybrid polymers (ORMOCER®s). Challenges for the deposition of the constituents of the multi-layer on fluoropolymer substrates will be discussed.