Flexible Ultra-high Gas Barrier Substrate for Organic Electronics

The use of plastic substrates enables new applications, such as flexible display devices, and other flexible electronic devices, using low cost, rollto-roll (R2R) fabrication technologies. One of the limitations of polymeric substrate in these applications is that oxygen and moisture rapidly diffuse through the material and subsequently degrade the electro-optical devices. GE Global Research (GEGR) has developed a plastic substrate technology comprised of a superior high-heat polycarbonate (LEXAN(R)) substrate film and a unique transparent coating package that provides the ultrahigh barrier (UHB) to moisture and oxygen, chemical resistance to solvents used in device fabrications, and a high performance transparent conductor. This article describes the coating solutions for polycarbonate (LEXAN(R)) films and its compatibility with OLED device fabrication processes.