Hybrid nanocomposite films of polyvinyl alcohol and ZnO as interactive gas barrier layers for electronics device passivation

Abstract

The development of low cost, easy processable, barrier encapsulant materials is of critical importance for the rapid commercialization of organic/electronic devices. In this study, flexible and thermally stable composites were prepared by simple solution processing using polyvinyl alcohol as the base polymer matrix and reactive zinc oxide nanoparticles as the dispersed phase. These materials were characterized for their applications as barrier materials for moisture and oxygen sensitive organic devices. Various studies such as thermal analysis, mechanical analysis, surface analysis and permeability studies were used to characterize the composite films for their possible use as a passivation material. The material was used to encapsulate Schottky structured devices, and the performance of these encapsulated devices under accelerated weathering was studied.

Effect of silane functionalized alumina on poly(vinyl butyral) nanocomposite films: Thermal, mechanical, and moisture barrier studies

“…The use of multilayered composite film structure of alternating polymer and metal oxide had been reported in the literature but these systems are not cost effective and not flexible. The presence of nanofillers in the polymer matrix results in increased mechanical stability, chemical resistance, and high moisture barrier resistance, which could be potentially used for device encapsulation applications .…”

Organic passivation layer on flexible Surlyn substrate for encapsulating organic photovoltaics

“…The lifetimes of the devices under these accelerated conditions are equivalent to $1000 times the lifetimes at 25 C and 45% RH. 28,29 Representative I-V curves for the encapsulated (S0, SSC3, MSC3, and OTE3) and unencapsulated devices are given in Figure S6. 25 From device (I-V) characteristics, it was observed that the device current decreases with increasing time of exposure to accelerate weathering conditions.…”

Encapsulation for Improving the Efficiencies of Solar Cells

“…PVA/ZnO-based composite was optimized for barrier property from calcium degradation test and organic device encapsulation results. Encapsulation with this optimized composite material improved the device lifetime by four times compared to the lifetime of non-encapsulated organic device [72].…”