# US 8,541,942 B2 · Transparent conductive articles and methods of making same

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- Number: US 8,541,942 B2
- Document ID: US8541942B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/532,181
- Filed: 2012-06-25
- Published: 2012-10-18
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 1998-11-02
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: Clark I. Bright
- Inventors: Clark I. Bright
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541942B2

## CPC

- C23C 16/0272: {Deposition of sub-layers, e.g. to promote the adhesion of the main coating}
- C23C 16/545: {for coating elongated substrates}
- G02F 1/133345: {Insulating layers (G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)}
- H10K 50/816: Multilayers, e.g. transparent multilayers
- H10K 50/8445: {multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers}
- H10K 77/111: {Flexible substrates}
- G02F 1/133305: {Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film}
- H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED}
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y10T 428/12576: Boride, carbide or nitride component
- Y10T 428/31667: Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers, or aldehyde or ketone condensation product
- Y10T 428/31678: Of metal
- Y10T 428/31681: Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
- Y10T 428/31692: Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
- Y10T 428/31794: Of cross-linked polyester
- Y10T 428/31935: Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## 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

### Claim 1

An OLED comprising:
a flexible plastic substrate coated with one or more vacuum-deposited in-situ polymerized layers of polymer and a first layer configuration 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; and
a light emitting material;
wherein the OLED has a visible light transmittance of about 80-85%.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The OLED according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic substrate is further coated with a second layer configuration 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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The OLED according to claim 2, wherein the first and second layer configurations are separated by one or more vacuum-deposited in-situ polymerized layers of polymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 5

A process for fabricating an OLED, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substrate;
(b) depositing over the substrate a first layer configuration, a second layer configuration, and one or more vacuum-deposited in-situ polymerized layers of polymer, 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 of the vacuum-deposited in-situ polymerized layers of polymer, and
(c) depositing over the substrate a light emitting material;
wherein the OLED has a visible light transmittance of about 80-85%.

### Claim 6

A process for fabricating an OLED, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substrate;
(b) depositing over the substrate a layer of in-situ polymerized organic monomer and an optically enhanced transparent electrically conductive three layer configuration comprising a first 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;
(c) applying the substrate to an OLED to obtain a visible light transmittance of about 80-85%.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising applying a polymeric base coat to smooth the substrate prior to deposition of a transparent electrically conductive oxide layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising heating the substrate during or after deposition of a transparent electrically conductive oxide layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising depositing one or more of the transparent electrically conductive oxide layers in a hydrogen-containing plasma.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising electrically connecting all electrically conductive layers in parallel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising contacting the transparent conductive oxide layers with a roller without causing cracking or crazing of the electrically conductive oxide layers sufficient to reduce electrical conductivity.