Encapsulation Approaches for Flexible Solar Panels, Displays, and Antennas

ABSTRACT: Modern optoelectronic devices require encapsulation for environmental protection, but current encapsulants are too heavy for weight-sensitive applications, provide too little protection from water or oxygen, or are too difficult to apply in the field. Akita Innovations proposes to develop and test a new paradigm for optoelectronic device encapsulation using spray-on, UV-cured crosslinked fluorinated acrylates containing glass or silica flake material. The nanosized (thickness) flakes will provide both a high barrier to oxygen and water and enhanced scratch resistance to the coating while preserving its flexibility, while the fluorinated crosslinked acrylate will contribute toughness, flexibility, and some barrier properties. The complete material will be transparent to light from the UV to the NIR and will contribute less than 175 g/square meter to the device due to the highly effective barrier and strength properties of the engineered material. The spray-on UV cure will allow the encapsulant to be easily applied to a variety of devices, in the field as well as in a factory. Applications will include flexible solar panels, displays, antennas, and OLED and LED lighting. BENEFIT: Anticipated Benefits from this development project are much lighter weight flexible solar panels for use on Air Force unmanned aircraft systems as well as tents, buildings, and clothing. The weight reduction will expand the performance of UAS and reduce the logistical demands for forward bases. The enhanced oxygen and water barrier properties of the material will improve the lifetime and performance of flexible solar panels, displays, and lighting, and will have application in commercial sectors as well as defense.