Fraunhofer FEP Shows Weathering-Resistant Functional Films for Outdoor Applications

At SVC 2015 (April 25-30, 2015, Santa Clara, CA ,booth 1420), Fraunhofer FEP is presenting the barrier and transmission results of films that were exposed to all weather conditions for a year outdoors. Fraunhofer FEP reports that the results are encouraging.
 
Flexible electronic components (e.g. thin film solar cells or bendable light sources and displays based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)) are opening up entirely new fields of application and design possibilities: flexible solar cells and diodes can be integrated into purses and clothing; bendable screens for mobile phones or curved televisions become possible; lightweight solar cells can convert light into energy on large areas of building facades or roofs of large industrial halls.
 
However, flexible elements must be well protected against environmental influences such as UV radiation and corrosive gases. They are encapsulated with glass or a coated film in order to remain functional. Scientists at Fraunhofer FEP are working on surface treatment and coating of plastic films in order to achieve the required encapsulation properties.
 
Very low water vapor and oxygen permeability as well as protection against UV light with simultaneously very high transparency for visible light have to be achieved. In addition, the encapsulation has to be resistant against scratches and other mechanical stresses.
 
Past research results in the field of encapsulation were focused on interior applications and temporary outdoor use, where the elements were not permanently exposed to wind and weather. Fraunhofer FEP in cooperation with the partner institutes Fraunhofer ISC Würzburg and Fraunhofer IVV Freising has now succeeded in developing encapsulation on the basis of weathering-resistant fluoropolymers.
 
An ETFE film – a material used for example for the facade of the Allianz Arena in Munich – was upgraded with what is known as a permeation barrier layer system to accomplish this. Dr. John Fahlteich, project manager for the coating of flexible substrates at Fraunhofer FEP, will present the results of the Flex25 research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FKZ 03V0224) at the SVC conference and introduce weathering-resistant encapsulation systems on ETFE film with water vapor permeation in the high barrier range as well as integrated UV protection.
 
Not only the protective effect but also light transmission through the film and the related efficiency of the encapsulated elements must be taken into account in the development of weathering-resistant functional films for outdoor applications. This is the development where FEP was able to make significant progress with a process for the optical antireflection coating of surfaces. The process is based on plasma-supported nanostructuring of large surfaces, which can be realized at low cost with roll-to-roll processing and is therefore also suited for extremely cost-sensitive photovoltaic applications. Current results for studies of nanostructured films and their outdoor applications will be presented by Cindy Steiner at SVC.
 
Through this work, Fraunhofer FEP is able to offer its customers tailor-made processes and systems for coating of weathering-resistant films, for example for use in flexible displays, functional lightweight construction roofs or tents or to develop these products in cooperation with them.
 
“Perhaps the work that will be presented will one day help to produce electricity with the facade of the Allianz Arena in Munich or the roof of Gondwanaland at the Leipzig zoo,” said Dr. Fahlteich.