Flexible organic electronic device with improved resistance to oxygen and moisture degradation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a device having at least, in the order listed, a first flexible composite barrier structure; a first electrical contact layer, a layer containing at least one organic active material; a second electrical contact layer; and a second flexible composite barrier structure.
It is understood that it is necessary to be able to connect the electrical contact layers of the device to external circuitry in order for the device to function.
In most cases this circuitry connection can be accomplished by extending the electrical contact layers beyond the dimensions of the active layer for the connection.
The composite barrier structures are then sealed together and to the extended portion of the electrical contact layers, with the electrical contact layers continuing beyond the seal.
However, it is also possible to use conductive pathways known as vias to connect the electrical contact layers to external circuitry.
The via openings can either be formed in each layer as the device is assembled, or formed by drilling through all the layers after the device is assembled.
The openings are then plated through using well-known techniques described in, for example, Sinnadurai, Handbook of Microelectronic Packaging and Interconnection Technologies (Electrochemical Publications Ltd.
, 1985).
If vias are used, the openings should be completely sealed around the connecting wires to protect the active layer from exposure to the external environment.
As used herein, the term "flexible" is intended to mean that a planar sheet of the material is less rigid than glass having a thickness of 1 millimeter at room temperature and preferably can be bent at an angle of at least 10.
degree.
from the plane without breaking.
The term "light-transmitting" is intended to mean that the material transmits at least 50% of light in the visible spectrum (400-700 nm).
The term "barrier" is intended to mean low permeability to oxygen and water vapor.
The term "essentially X" is used to mean that the composition of a particular material is mainly X, and may also contain other ingredients that do not detrimentally affect the functional properties of that material to a degree at which the material can no longer perform its intended purpose