Patent Publication Number: US-2023157057-A1

Title: Display device and method of manufacturing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Division of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/676,816, filed on Nov. 7, 2019, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/856,793, filed Dec. 28, 2017, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/198,854, filed on Jun. 30, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0153808, filed on Nov. 3, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     1. TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing the same. 
     2. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Utilization of display apparatuses such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode display (OLED), an electro phoretic display (EPD) and a plasma display panel (PDP) has increased. 
     Flat panel displays may include flexible display panels capable of being bendable or foldable in various directions. Various methods have been presented for increasing the flexibility of flexible display panels. 
     Protection of elements of flexible display panels from outside moisture or oxygen may be insufficient when the number of encapsulating thin films is reduced to obtain a smaller thickness, and the flexibility may be lowered when the thickness is increased for the protection of elements. 
     When an inorganic layer is included in a thin film encapsulation layer, reduced flexibility may result in a stress concentration in a particular area and thus a crack may occur when the inorganic layer deforms. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a display device including a substrate, and a display unit disposed on the substrate. An encapsulating unit encapsulates the display unit. The encapsulating unit includes a barrier organic layer. The barrier organic layer includes a plurality of organic materials and a plurality of inorganic materials. The inorganic materials are arranged in free volumes between the organic materials. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the barrier organic layer may include a non-slippery top surface. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the encapsulating unit may have a multilayered structure. The encapsulating unit may include a first inorganic layer disposed on the barrier organic layer. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the encapsulating unit may include an encapsulating substrate and an encapsulating material. The barrier organic layer may include the encapsulating material. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a method of manufacturing a display device including preparing a substrate and forming a display unit on the substrate. An encapsulating unit encapsulating the display unit is formed. Forming the encapsulating unit includes forming a barrier organic layer. The barrier organic layer includes a plurality of organic materials and a plurality of inorganic materials. The inorganic materials are arranged in free volumes between the organic materials. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the forming the barrier organic layer may include forming an organic layer and injecting a plurality of inorganic precursors into free volumes existing between the plurality of organic materials composing the organic layer. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the forming the barrier organic layer may include adding a reactant to free volumes between the plurality of organic materials after having injected the inorganic precursors into the free volumes. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the forming the barrier organic layer may include converting the inorganic precursors to inorganic materials in the free volumes by adding the reactant. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the forming the encapsulating unit may include forming the first inorganic layer encapsulating the display unit before forming the barrier organic layer. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a top surface of the barrier organic layer may be rough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of a display device according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of the display device illustrated in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the display device illustrated in  FIG.  2   , showing a display unit of the display device; 
         FIGS.  4 A through  4 D  are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a display device, according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this regard, the exemplary embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described herein. 
     Like reference numerals in the specification and drawings may denote like elements. 
     It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. 
     It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component is referred to as being “formed on” another layer, region, or component, it may be directly or indirectly formed on the other layer, region, or component. For example, intervening layers, regions, or components may be present. 
     Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific process order may be performed differently from the described order. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to the described order. 
       FIG.  1    is a plan view of a display device according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     A substrate  100  may include one or more flexible materials. The substrate  100  may include one or more relatively heat-resistant and durable plastic materials. 
     The substrate  100  may include a display area (DA) displaying images, and a non-display area (NDA), which may be an area outside the display area (DA). 
     Various elements, emitting light, such as an organic light emitting element and a liquid crystal display element may be included in the display area (DA), and voltage lines supplying electrical power may be arranged in the non-display area (NDA). 
     The non-display area (NDA) may include a pad unit (PAD) which may transfer electrical signals from a power supply or a signal generator to the display area (DA). 
     The pad unit (PAD) may include a driver IC, a pad connecting the driver IC and pixel circuits, and a fan-out wiring. 
       FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of the display device illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     A display device  1000  may include the substrate  100 , a display unit  200  disposed on the substrate  100 , and an encapsulating unit  500  encapsulating the display unit  200  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     The substrate  100  may include one or more materials, as described above. The substrate  100  may include transparent glass materials including SiO 2  as a main component of the substrate  100 . However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the substrate  100  may include transparent plastic materials. Plastic materials may be organic materials selected from insulating organic materials such as polyethersulphone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene napthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypheylene sulfide (PPS), polyallylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC), cellulose triacetate (TAC), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP). 
     The display device  1000  may include the substrate  100  having a flexible property and thus, may be capable of two-dimensional elongation according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     The substrate  100  may include one or more materials having a Poisson&#39;s ratio of about 0.4 or more according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The Poisson&#39;s ratio denotes the ratio of transverse contraction strain to longitudinal extension strain in the direction of stretching force. 
     The flexibility of the substrate  100  may be increased and thus the display device  1000  may be more easily bendable or foldable when the substrate  100  includes materials that have the Poisson&#39;s ratio of about 0.4 or more. That is, the substrate  100  may have a relatively high stretching property. 
     The display unit  200  may be disposed on the substrate  100 . 
     The display unit  200  may emit visible light which may be used to display images. The display unit  200  may include various elements, for example, an organic light emitting diode or a liquid crystal display element. 
     The display device  1000  may include the display unit  200  including an organic light emitting diode (OLED) according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The OLED will be described in more detail below. 
     The display device  1000  may include the encapsulating unit  500 , which may encapsulate the display unit  200  completely to protect the display unit  200  from outside moisture or oxygen. 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may be disposed on the display unit  200  and both ends of the encapsulating unit  500  may be in contact with the substrate  100 . 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may include laminated thin film layers disposed on the display unit  200 . 
     However, a shape of the encapsulating unit  500  is not limited thereto, and the encapsulating unit  500  may have a frit structure, instead of the thin film structure, and may protect the display unit  200  from outside oxygen or moisture. 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may include a first inorganic layer  300  and a barrier organic layer  400 . 
     The first inorganic layer  300  may reduce or prevent an invasion of oxygen or moisture. 
     The first inorganic layer  300  may include a single layer or multiple layers which may include metal oxides or metal nitrides. The inorganic layers may each include any one of SiNx, Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 . 
     The barrier organic layer  400  may compensate for a reduction in flexibility in the first inorganic layer  300 . The barrier organic layer  400  may absorb stress in the first inorganic layer  300  and may provide flexibility to the encapsulating unit  500 . Thus, the flexibility of the display device  1000  may be increased by the barrier organic layer  400  included in the encapsulating unit  500 . 
     The barrier organic layer  400  may be a layer including both organic and inorganic materials. A process of forming the barrier organic layer  400  will be described in more detail below. 
     The organic material included in the barrier organic layer  400  may include a polymer. The barrier organic layer  400  may include a single layer or multiple layers, which may each include any one of PET, polyimide, PC, epoxy, polyethylene, and PAR. 
     For example, the organic material of the barrier organic layer  400  may include PAR. The barrier organic layer  400  may include a polymerized monomer composition including a diacrylate monomer and a triacrylate monomer. The monomer composition may include a monoacrylate monomer. The monomer composition may include a photoinitiator such as thermoplastic olefin (TPO); however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. 
     The top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be a rough surface. The barrier organic layer  400  included in the display device  1000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include both organic materials and inorganic materials and thus, the top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be rough or rugged. 
     The top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be flat or smooth; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be non-slippery, rough and rugged. 
     The barrier organic layer  400  may provide flexibility and may also reduce or prevent the invasion of oxygen or moisture. For example, an organic layer included in the barrier organic layer  400  may provide flexibility and an inorganic layer included in the barrier organic layer  400  may reduce or prevent the invasion of oxygen or moisture. The display device  1000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the barrier organic layer  400 , which may be a single thin film, or which may include inorganic and organic layers. 
     Thus, the display device  1000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention need not include an additional inorganic layer on the barrier organic layer  400  to protect the display unit  200  from oxygen or moisture. 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may include two thin films, that is, the first inorganic layer  300  and the barrier organic layer  400 . Thus, the encapsulating layer  500  may be relatively thin and may have increased flexibility. 
     Since the first inorganic layer  300  may be included in the encapsulating unit  500 , a reduction in the flexibility of the first inorganic layer  300  may be reduced or prevented and an occurrence of a crack due to a concentration of stress in the first inorganic layer  300  may be reduced or prevented. 
       FIG.  3    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the display device illustrated in  FIG.  2   , showing a display unit of the display device. The display unit  200  may include various light emitting elements such as the OLED and the liquid crystal display element; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. 
     A buffer layer  110  may be disposed on the substrate  100 . The buffer layer  110  may reduce or prevent a dispersion of ions of impurities, may reduce or prevent an invasion of moisture or outside air, and may be a barrier layer and/or a blocking layer that flattens a surface of the substrate  100 . 
     The buffer layer  110  may include the inorganic layer and may be disposed on substantially the entire top surface of the substrate  100 . 
     A thin film transistor (TFT) may be disposed on the buffer layer  110 . An active layer A of the TFT may include polysilicon and may include a channel region which is not doped with impurities. A source region and a drain region may be respectively disposed on sides of the channel region and may each be doped with impurities. The impurities may vary depending on a type of TFT and may include n-type impurities or p-type impurities. 
     A gate insulating layer  210  may be disposed on the active layer A. The gate insulating layer  210  may be formed after the active layer A has been formed. 
     The gate insulating layer  210  may include inorganic materials such as silicon oxides and silicon nitrides, and may include multiple layers or a single layer. The gate insulating layer  210  may insulate the active layer A from a gate electrode G disposed on the gate insulating layer  210 . 
     The gate insulating layer  210  may include the inorganic layer, and may be disposed on substantially the entire surface of the substrate  100 . 
     The gate electrode G may be disposed on the gate insulating layer  210 . The gate electrode G may be formed after the gate insulating layer  210  has been formed. The gate electrode G may be formed via a photolithography process and an etching process. 
     The gate electrode G may include at least one metal selected from Mo, Al, Pt, Pd, Ag, Mg, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, Ti, W, and Cu. 
     An interlayer insulating layer  230  may be disposed on substantially the entire surface of the substrate  100  and may cover the gate electrode G. The interlayer insulating layer  230  may be formed after the gate electrode has been formed. 
     The interlayer insulating layer  230  may include inorganic materials. For example, the interlayer insulating layer  230  may include metal oxides or metal nitrides. The inorganic materials may include SiO 2 , SiN x , SiON, Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , or ZrO 2 . 
     The interlayer insulating layer  230  may include inorganic materials such as silicon oxides (SiO x ) and/or silicon nitrides (SiN x ), and may include multiple layers or a single layer. In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the interlayer insulating layer  230  may have a dual layer structure of SiOx/SiNy or SiNx/SiOy. 
     A source electrode S and a drain electrode D of the TFT may be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer  230 . 
     The source electrode S and the drain electrode D may include at least one metal selected from Al, Pt, Pd, Ag, Mg, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, Mo, Ti, W and Cu. 
     A via layer  250  may cover the source electrode S and the drain electrode D. A first electrode  281  may be disposed on the via layer  250 . The first electrode  281  may be connected to the drain electrode D through a via hole formed in the via layer  250  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The via layer  250  may include one or more insulating materials. For example, the via layer  250  may include inorganic materials, organic materials or a combination of organic/inorganic materials, and may include a monolayer or multiple layers. The via layer  250  may be formed via various deposition methods. In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the via layer  250  may include at least one of polyacrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamide-based resin, polyimide-based resin, unsaturated polyester-based resin, polyphenylene-based resin, polyphenylene sulfides-based resin and benzocyclobutene (BCB). 
     The OLED may be disposed on the via layer  250 . 
     The OLED may include the first electrode  281 , an intermediate layer  283  including an organic light emitting layer and a second electrode  285 . The display device  1000  may include a pixel defining layer  270  including an opening  270   a.    
     Holes and electrons injected from the first electrode  281  and the second electrode  285  of the OLED may combine in the organic light emitting layer of the intermediate layer  283  and generate light. The intermediate layer  283  may be disposed inside the opening  270   a , and thus the opening  270   a  may act as a pixel region. 
     The first electrode  281  and/or the second electrode  285  may include a transparent electrode or a reflective electrode. When the first and/or second electrode  281  and  285  include the transparent electrode, the transparent electrode may include ITO, IZO, ZnO or In 2 O 3 . When the first and/or second electrode  281  and  285  include the reflective electrode, the reflective electrode may include a reflective layer including Ag, Mg, Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir and Cr, or a compound of these metals, and a transparent layer including ITO, IZO, ZnO or In 2 O 3 . In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first electrode  281  or the second electrode  285  may have a structure of ITO/Ag/ITO. 
     The intermediate layer  283  may be disposed between the first electrode  281  and the second electrode  285 , and may include the organic light emitting layer. 
     The intermediate layer  283  may include the organic light emitting layer and may include at least one of a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer. However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto and the intermediate layer  283  may include the organic light emitting layer and may include other various functional layers. A spacer may be disposed on the pixel defining layer  270 . The spacer may protrude in an upward direction from the pixel defining layer  270  and may reduce or prevent a reduction in display characteristics due to an outside impact. 
       FIGS.  4 A through  4 D  are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a display device, according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 A , the substrate  100  may be prepared and a display unit  200  may be formed on the substrate  100 . 
     The first inorganic layer  300  may protect the display unit  200  from outside moisture or oxygen. The first inorganic layer  300  may have a thin film shape and may be formed on the display unit  200  to encapsulate completely the display unit  200 . Both ends of the first inorganic layer  300  may be formed to be in contact with the substrate  100 . 
     The first inorganic layer  300  may include a single layer or multiple layers including metal oxides or metal nitrides. The inorganic layers may include any one of SiNx, Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 . 
     An organic layer  400 ′ may be formed on the first inorganic layer  300  after the first inorganic layer  300  has been formed. 
     The organic layer  400 ′ may include organic materials  410 . The organic material  410  may include a polymer. The organic material  410  may include any one of PET, polyimide, PC, epoxy, polyethylene and PAR. 
     The organic material  410  may include a polymerized monomer composition including diacrylate monomer and triacrylate monomer. 
     Each of a plurality of organic materials  410  may have a stick shape; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The organic material  410  may have a chain shape or any other shape in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Since the plurality of organic materials  410  forming the organic layer  400 ′ may have a chain shape with a certain length, a free volume F may exist between the organic materials  410 . 
     The organic layer  400 ′ may include a plurality of organic materials with a certain gap between each other, and thus the free volume F may exist between the organic materials  410 . 
     The plurality of organic materials  410  are illustrated and the plurality of free volumes F between the plurality of organic materials  410  are illustrated as dotted lines in  FIG.  4 A ; however, the number, occurrence, locations or sizes of the free volumes F are not limited thereto. 
     The free volume F may provide invasion paths for outside moisture or oxygen, through the organic layer  400 ′ to the display unit  200 , despite a flexible characteristic of the organic layer  400 ′. 
     Thus, a method of manufacturing the display device according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may perform an operation of injecting an inorganic precursor  430 ′ into the free volumes F after the organic layer  400 ′ has been formed, as illustrated in  FIG.  4 B , for example. 
     The inorganic precursor  430 ′ may be changed to the inorganic material by a subsequent reaction with a reactant, and thus may use any material which is capable of filling in free volumes F. 
     The inorganic precursor  430 ′ may be trimethylaluminum (TMA, [(CH 3 )Al] 2 ) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     An operation of adding a reactant R may be performed as illustrated in  FIG.  4 C , for example. The reactant R may be added, the inorganic precursor  430 ′ which has been injected into the free volume F of the organic layer  400 ′ may react with the reactant, and the inorganic precursor  430 ′ may be changed to the inorganic material. 
     When the inorganic layer  430 ′ is trimethylaluminum (TMA. [(CH 3 ) 3 Al] 2 ), the reactant R to be added may be H 2 O according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     [(CH 3 ) 3 Al] 2  may react with  120  and be changed to the inorganic material filling in the free volumes F. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 D , the inorganic precursor  430 ′ may react with the reactant R, be changed to the inorganic material  430 , fill in the free volumes F between organic layers  410 , and form the barrier organic layer  400 . 
     The inorganic material  430  filling in the free volumes F between organic layers  410  may be aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     For example, [(CH 3 ) 3 Al] 2  and the inorganic precursor  430 ′ may react with the reactant R (e.g., H 2 O) and be changed to the inorganic material  430  (e.g., Al 2 O 3 ). 
     Thus, the barrier organic layer  400  including the plurality of organic materials  410  and the plurality of inorganic materials  430  arranged in free volumes F between organic materials  410  may be formed on the first inorganic layer  300 , as illustrated in  FIG.  4 D , for example. 
     The top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be relatively rough, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The barrier organic layer  400  included in the display device  1000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include and be formed of both organic materials and inorganic materials, and the top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  might not be slippery or smooth, but may be rough or rugged. 
     The top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be smooth or flat; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The top surface of the barrier organic layer  400  may be non-slippery, rough and rugged, as described above. 
     Accordingly, since the display device  1000  manufactured by the method of manufacturing the display device according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may have free volumes F, between organic materials  410 , filled with inorganic materials  430 , invasion paths for oxygen or moisture may be reduced or prevented. Thus, the barrier organic layer  400  may reduce or prevent a penetration of outside oxygen and moisture to the display unit  200 . 
     Thus, the first inorganic layer  300  and the barrier organic layer  400  may protect the display unit  200 . Thus, an additional inorganic layer on the barrier organic layer  400  need not be included in the barrier organic layer  400 , and thus the overall thickness and flexibility of the display device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be increased. 
     Since the barrier organic layer  400  may absorb the stress of the first inorganic layer  300  and provide flexibility, a separate inorganic layer on the barrier organic layer  400  may be omitted and an occurrence of a crack due to stress on the inorganic layer may be reduced or prevented. 
       FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG.  5   , like reference numerals as those illustrated in  FIG.  2    may denote like elements, and thus duplicative descriptions may be omitted. 
     A display device  2000  may include the substrate  100 , the display unit  200  disposed on the substrate  100  and the encapsulating unit  500  encapsulating the display unit  200  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may include the barrier organic layer  400  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The barrier organic layer  400  may be directly disposed on the display unit  200  and may reduce or prevent a penetration of outside oxygen or moisture to the display unit  200 . 
     The barrier organic layer  400  may be disposed on the display unit  200  and both ends of the barrier organic layer  400  may be in direct contact with the substrate  100 . The barrier organic layer  400  may encapsulate completely the display unit  200 . 
     The display device  2000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the encapsulating unit  500 , which may include the barrier organic layer  400 , without including a separate inorganic layer either on or under the barrier organic layer  400 . 
     The barrier organic layer  400  included in the encapsulating layer  500  may include both the organic material and the inorganic material. 
     The organic material included in the barrier organic layer  400  may include a polymer. The organic material may include, for example, a single layer or multiple layers including any one of PET, polyimide, PC, epoxy, polyethylene, and PAR. 
     For example, the organic material included in the barrier organic layer  400  may include PAR. The barrier organic layer  400  may include a polymerized monomer composition including a diacrylate monomer and a triacrylate monomer. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 D , the barrier organic layer  400  may include the plurality of organic materials  410  and the plurality of inorganic materials  430  filing in gaps between organic materials  410 . 
     Organic materials and inorganic materials included in the barrier organic layer  400  are not illustrated in the display device  2000  illustrated in  FIG.  5   ; however, organic and inorganic materials included in the barrier organic layer  400  illustrated in  FIG.  5    may be substantially the same as the barrier organic layer  400  illustrated in  FIG.  4 D . 
     Thus, since the barrier organic layer  400  may include free volumes F between organic materials  410 , filled with inorganic materials  430 , invasion paths for oxygen or moisture may be blocked, and thus a penetration of outside oxygen and moisture to the display unit  200  may be reduced or prevented. 
     Even though the encapsulating unit  500  may include the barrier organic layer  400 , without a separate inorganic layer, the encapsulating unit  500  may reduce or prevent a penetration of moisture and oxygen to the display unit  200 . 
     Thus, since the thickness of the encapsulating unit  500  may be relatively thin, the flexibility of the display device may be increased, even without a separate inorganic layer. Thus, an occurrence of a crack due to stress in the inorganic layer when the display device  2000  is deformed may be reduced or eliminated. 
     Since the barrier organic layer  400  may include organic materials, the encapsulating unit  500  and the display device  2000  may be relatively flexible. 
       FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG.  6   , like reference numerals as in  FIGS.  1  through  5    may denote like elements, and duplicative descriptions may be omitted. 
     A display device  3000  may include a substrate  100 A, the display unit  200  on the substrate  100 A and the encapsulating unit  500  encapsulating the display unit  200 . The encapsulating unit  500  may reduce or prevent a penetration of outside oxygen or moisture to the display unit  200 . 
     The encapsulating unit  500  may include an encapsulating substrate  100 B and the encapsulating material  600  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the encapsulating unit  500  may have a thin film encapsulation shape and may protect the display unit  200  as described above; however, the shape of the encapsulating unit  500  is not limited thereto, and the display device  3000  according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the encapsulating substrate  100 B and the encapsulating material  600  having any desired shape. 
     The encapsulating material  600  may include the barrier organic layer  400  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The encapsulating material  600  may include inorganic materials and organic materials. 
     The encapsulating material  600  may include a plurality of organic materials and a plurality of inorganic materials arranged with free volumes between the organic materials, similar to the barrier organic layer  40  illustrated in  FIG.  4 D . 
     Accordingly, since the encapsulating material  600  may include free volumes filled with inorganic materials, invasion paths for oxygen or moisture may be blocked. Thus, the encapsulating material  600  may reduce or prevent a penetration of outside oxygen and moisture to the display unit  200 . The encapsulating material may provide flexibility to the display unit  200  since the encapsulating material  600  may include organic materials. 
     Since the encapsulating material  600  may include the barrier organic layer  400 , the flexibility of the display device may be increased. Thus, an occurrence of a crack when the display unit  200  is deformed may be reduced or prevented, and an invasion of outside moisture and oxygen to the display unit  200  may be reduced or prevented. 
     It should be understood that exemplary embodiments of the present invention described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment of the present invention should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.