Work

Enhancing flexibility and reliability in wearable OLEDs through silbione-blended hybrimer-based encapsulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Numerous studies have aimed to improve the mechanical flexibility of thin-film encapsulation, a key obstacle in commercializing wearable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). This study develops a silbione-blended organic/inorganic hybrid epoxy polymer (hybrimer) with high toughness as an organic barrier to enhance the flexibility of organic-inorganic multi-barriers. The optimal silbione-blended hybrimer (SBH) films exhibit superior mechanical properties, including increased elongation and tensile strength, compared to the hybrimer. The 3.5-dyad SBH-based encapsulation achieves a water vapor transmission rate of 7.83 × 10 −6 g/m 2 /day and 9.45 × 10 −5 g/m 2 /day before and after bending at a strain of 2%, respectively. In addition, the SBH barrier effectively protects the inorganic barrier by forming a robust aluminate phase at the interface between the inorganic and organic barrier, even under harsh conditions of 85 °C/85% relative humidity, demonstrating its potential for wearable applications. As a result, SBH-based encapsulations offer mechanical and environmental stability, making them ideal for wearable OLEDs.

Source: npj Flexible Electronics

DOI: 10.1038/s41528-025-00423-6

Authors: Ki SuK Kang, So Yeong Jeong, Yongmin Jeon, Jeong Hyun Kwon, Kyung Cheol Choi

Institutions: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Tech University of Korea, Kyung Hee University, Chungbuk National University

Language: English

Topic: Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,090

Funders: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ministry of SMEs and Startups