Transparent conductive articles and methods of making same

• US 8,241,752 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bright, Clark I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Monique
• Application Number:
  US12/964,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 428/469
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/0272 Deposition of sub-layers, e.g. to promote the adhesion of the main coating
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/545 for coating elongated substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133345 Insulating layers G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/81 Anodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/816 Multilayers, e.g. transparent multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8445 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12576 Boride, carbide or nitride component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31667 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers, or aldehyde or ketone condensation product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31794 Of cross-linked polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

A lightweight, flexible, plastic substrate is coated with at least one layer, such that the substrate has desired barrier and electrode characteristics useful in constructing OLED displays. The layer has both a low enough resistance to function as an electrode for the display, and low oxygen and moisture permeability. The display is thereby protected from oxygen and moisture degradation. For lower permeability and/or higher conductivity, multiple alternating layers of barrier materials and conductive materials may be applied. The barrier material includes at least one of a thin metallic film, an organic polymer, a thin transparent dielectric, a thin transparent metal nitride, and a thin transparent conductive oxide. The conductive material includes at least one of a thin transparent conductive oxide, a thin transparent metallic film, and a thin transparent metal nitride. Preferably, a multilayer polymer base coat is deposited over the substrate to exclude moisture and atmospheric gases.

Claims

1. An OLED comprising a flexible plastic substrate coated with

(i) a first layer configuration and a second layer configuration, each of the first and second layer configurations comprising a first transparent electrically conductive oxide layer, a transparent electrically conductive metal layer adjacent the first transparent electrically conductive oxide layer, and a second transparent electrically conductive oxide layer adjacent the transparent electrically conductive metal layer, wherein the first and second layer configurations are separated by one or more vacuum-deposited in-situ polymerized layers of polymer, and

(ii) a light emitting material, wherein the OLED has a visible light transmittance of about 80-85%.

2. The OLED according to claim 1, wherein, the OLED does not comprise a reflective metal layer.