Multilayer encapsulation of plastic photovoltaic devices

We report the first results on conformal deposition of parylene on plastic solar cells, and study the effects of protection on performance characteristics of polymer solar cell. We show that single parylene coating layer is not a very effective barrier even for thicknesses as large as 10 mu m. Our results support the experimental observations that the main degradation processes in poly(3-hexylthiophene) are the oxygen-assisted photochemical reactions, such as photobleaching and chain scission. Multilayer barriers made of parylene and aluminum oxide coatings are very promising for full protection of organic solar cell from degradation even under intense AM 1.5 solar light. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.