Patent Description:
An Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is an organic thin film electroluminescent member, which has attracted great attention owing to its advantages of simple preparation process, low cost, low power consumption, high brightness, wide viewing angle, high contrast and flexible display.

In the actual process, an encapsulation layer is arranged in an OLED electronic display product to prevent internal components from being damaged due to the influence of water vapor, oxygen and the like penetrating into the interior, but the current encapsulation layer has a limited bonding strength and is easy to fall off, thus affecting the encapsulation effect of the encapsulation layer and reducing the yield of the OLED electronic display product.

[<NUM>] <CIT> discloses a flexible display screen and manufacturing method therefor. The flexible display screen comprises: a flexible substrate, a thin film crystal layer, an organic electroluminescent layer, and a flexible cover plate. The thin film crystal layer is stacked on the flexible substrate and comprises a driving portion and a packaging portion provided around the driving portion. The packaging portion has at least one elongated groove. At least two elongated protrusions are provided corresponding to the groove. Two adjacent protrusions are located on both sides in the length direction of the groove. The organic electroluminescent layer is correspondingly provided on the driving portion. The flexible cover plate is stacked on the side of the organic electroluminescent layer that departs from the driving portion and covers the organic electroluminescent layer and the packaging portion.

[<NUM>] <CIT> discloses an organic light-emitting display apparatus including a substrate, a display unit arranged on the substrate, an encapsulation substrate arranged on the display unit, a first filler between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate, a second filler between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate and separate from the first filler, and a sealant between the first filler and the second filler and bonding the substrate and the encapsulation substrate.

[<NUM>] <CIT> discloses a protection-plate-attached electronic member including: a first electronic member including a first transparent substrate; an adhesion layer which overlaps with the first transparent substrate; a protection plate fixed to the first electronic member in a state in which the adhesion layer intervenes between the protection plate and the first transparent substrate; and a peeling auxiliary section which intervenes between the adhesion layer and one of the protection plate and the first electronic member so as to lower bonding strength between the adhesion layer and the one of the protection plate and the first electronic member, wherein the adhesion layer includes an overlapping section which overlaps with the peeling auxiliary section; and a nonoverlapping section which does not overlap with the peeling auxiliary section and which directly contacts with the one of the protection plate and the first electronic member.

<CIT>) discloses an encapsulation structure and a display substrate comprising the said structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate comprising a base and an encapsulation structure, and a display panel comprising the substrate.

The object is achieved by the features of independent claim <NUM>.

In order to explain the technical scheme of the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the drawings of the embodiments will be briefly introduced herein below. Obviously, the drawings described below only refer to some embodiments of the present invention, and are not limitative of the present invention.

<NUM>-encapsulation structure; <NUM>-first encapsulation layer; <NUM>-second encapsulation layer; <NUM>-first main surface; <NUM>-first region; <NUM>-second region; <NUM>-third encapsulation layer; <NUM>-transition layer; <NUM>-concave-convex structure; <NUM>-base; <NUM>-dielectric layer; <NUM>-barrier dam; <NUM>-substrate.

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the embodiments described are only part but not all of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments described herein, all the other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without any inventive work should be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the present disclosure shall have the meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. The terms "first," "second," and the like which are used in the present disclosure are not intended to indicate any sequence, amount or importance, but to distinguish various components. Likewise, the terms "comprise," "comprising," "include," "including," and the like are intended to specify that the elements or objects stated before these terms encompass the elements or objects and equivalents thereof listed after these terms. and do not preclude the other elements or objects. The terms "connect", "connected", and the like are not intended to define physical or mechanical connection, but may include electrical connection, either directly or indirectly. "On," "below," "left," "right" and the like are only used to indicate a relative position relationship, and if the absolute position of the object described is changed, the relative position relationship may be changed accordingly.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate according to the claims, and the substrate comprises a base and an encapsulation structure that is located on the base. The encapsulation structure comprises an encapsulation layer and a transition layer, wherein the encapsulation layer comprises a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer which are sequentially stacked on the base; the first encapsulation layer is located on a first main surface of the second encapsulation layer; the transition layer and the first encapsulation layer are juxtaposed on the first main surface; the first main surface comprises a first region in contact with the first encapsulation layer and a second region in contact with the transition layer; the second region is located at an edge of the first main surface; and a bonding strength between the transition layer and the second encapsulation layer is greater than a bonding strength between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer. The transition layer can improve the adhesion of the edge portion of the second encapsulation layer and prevent the second encapsulation layer from being separated from the substrate, thus improving the encapsulation yield of the substrate.

The encapsulation structure, the substrate, and the display panel according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a plan view of a substrate according to a reference embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the substrate shown in <FIG> along M-N, not forming part of the present invention.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate. As shown in <FIG>, the substrate <NUM> comprises a base <NUM> and a encapsulation structure <NUM> that is disposed on the base <NUM>. The encapsulation structure <NUM> comprises an encapsulation layer and a transition layer <NUM>, the encapsulation layer comprises a first encapsulation layer <NUM> and a second encapsulation layer <NUM> which are sequentially stacked on the base <NUM>, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> is located on a first main surface <NUM> of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> (e.g., a main surface of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> facing the base <NUM>), the transition layer <NUM> and the first encapsulation layer <NUM> are juxtaposed on the first main surface <NUM>, the first main surface <NUM> comprises a first region <NUM> in contact with the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and a second region <NUM> in contact with the transition layer <NUM>, the second region <NUM> is located at an edge of the first main surface <NUM>, and the bonding strength between the transition layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM> is greater than the bonding strength between the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM>.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a preparation material of the first encapsulation layer <NUM> may be an inorganic material, such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or any other suitable material. The inorganic material has a high compactness, which can prevent water, oxygen and the like from invading the interior of the substrate <NUM>. For example, the preparation material of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> may be an organic material such as a polymer resin (e.g., polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacrylate polyurethane, polyurea or aromatic polyester), etc. The second encapsulation layer <NUM> has functions of planarization, stress relaxation, etc. In addition, materials such as a desiccant may be disposed in the second encapsulation layer <NUM>, to absorb substances such as water and oxygen invading the interior so as to further protect components in the substrate <NUM>.

Generally, the bonding force between an organic material and an inorganic material is weak, and separation may readily occur. If the transition layer <NUM> is not provided, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> will cover all of the first main surface <NUM> of the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. In the actual application process, under a condition that the substrate <NUM> is affected by an external force such as bending, the stress will usually be concentrated in an edge region of the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. The mismatch of the materials of the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM> will lead to a stress difference between them, thus making it easy for the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM> to be separated at an edge. In addition, a thickness of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> made of an organic material is generally greater than a thickness of the first encapsulation layer <NUM> made of an inorganic material, thus further increasing the stress difference between the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and increasing the risk of separation of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> from the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the preparation material of the transition layer <NUM> may include an organic material such as a polymer resin (e.g., polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacrylate polyurethane, polyurea or aromatic polyester), etc. The transition layer <NUM> is disposed at an edge of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> (e.g., in the second region <NUM>). The bonding force between the transition layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM> is great, so that an edge portion of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> can be firmly attached to the substrate <NUM>, and the first encapsulation layer <NUM> can still prevent water, oxygen, and the like from invading the interior of the substrate <NUM> without affecting the encapsulation yield of the substrate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a spatial rectangular coordinate system is established with reference to the base <NUM> in the substrate to explain the positions of various components in the substrate <NUM>. In this spatial rectangular coordinate system, the directions of the X axis and the Y axis are parallel to a plane on which the substrate <NUM> is located (e.g., a plane on which the base <NUM> is located), and the Z axis is perpendicular to the plane on which the base <NUM> is located.

For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthographic projection of the transition layer on the plane where the substrate is located is located outside an orthographic projection of the first encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the orthographic projection of the transition layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located is located outside the orthographic projection of the first encapsulation layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located, so that the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> are juxtaposed on the main surface <NUM> of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> are overlapped with each other. As a consequence, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> does not affect the bonding between the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM>.

For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> are juxtaposed on the first main surface <NUM> of the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. For example, further, there is no spacing between the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM>, that is, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> are in contact with each other.

For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the preparation materials of the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer may both include organic materials. Illustratively, as shown in <FIG>, the preparation materials of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> both include organic materials, and the bonding strength between the organic materials is great, so that the bonding between the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> is firm. Factors that affect the bonding strength (bonding force) may include an intermolecular force. The intermolecular force between materials of the same type is greater, and the type may be organic or inorganic. For example, the intermolecular force between the organic material and the organic material, and the intermolecular force between the inorganic material and the inorganic material are usually greater than the intermolecular force between the organic material and the inorganic material. As such, the bonding strength between the inorganic film layer and the inorganic film layer, and the bonding strength between the organic film layer and the organic film layer are generally greater than the bonding strength between the organic film layer and the inorganic film layer.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a distribution of the transition layer on the first main surface of the second encapsulation layer is not limited as long as an arrangement of the transition layer can reduce the risk of separation of the second encapsulation layer from the substrate. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of transition layers (or second regions) may be provided and arranged at intervals at the edge of the first main surface. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, in a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the second region may be a closed ring, and the first region is located within the second region. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the second region <NUM> is a closed ring and is located at the edge of the first main surface <NUM>, the first region <NUM> is located within the second region <NUM>, and the edge region of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> can be all combined with the transition layer <NUM>, thus further improving the adhesion of the edge region of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> on the substrate <NUM> and increasing the encapsulation yield of the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a surface of the transition layer in contact with the first main surface is provided with at least one concave-convex structure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of another substrate <NUM> provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of another substrate <NUM> provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the surface of the transition layer <NUM> in contact with the second region <NUM> may be provided with at least one concave-convex structure <NUM> (a portion of the transition layer <NUM> located in the dashed box). The concave-convex structure <NUM> can increase a contact area between the transition layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM>, thus increasing the bonding force between the transition layer <NUM> and the second encapsulation layer <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the arrangement of the concave-convex structure on the transition layer is not limited as long as the arrangement of the concave-convex structure can increase the contact area between the transition layer and the second encapsulation layer. For example, the concave-convex structure is arranged in multiple layers in a direction from an edge of the first main surface to a center of the first main surface. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, there may be a plurality of concave-convex structures <NUM>, which are arranged in multiple layers in the direction from the edge of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> to the center of the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. As such, the contact area between the edge portion of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> can be further increased, the bonding force between them can be increased, and the separation of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> from the substrate <NUM> can be prevented.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a planar shape of the concave-convex structure is not limited. For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the concave-convex structure may be a closed ring. For example, the first encapsulation layer is located within the concave-convex structure of a closed ring. For example, further, in the case where the concave-convex structure is in a multi-layer arrangement, the plurality of concave-convex structure layers may be arranged in a concentric ring. For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the concave-convex structure may be a non-closed ring, a line segment, or the like. For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of concave-convex structures are provided, and the concave-convex structures may be distributed on a surface of the transition layer in a dot-matrix manner. For example, in a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure arranged in a dot-matrix manner may include at least one of a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a polygon, and the like.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure is not limited. For example, in the substrate provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure may include one or a combination of an arc, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an inverted trapezoid, and the like in a direction perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure <NUM> is a trapezoid in the z-axis direction. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure <NUM> is an inverted trapezoid in the z-axis direction.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a forming manner of the concave-convex structure <NUM> is not limited. For example, a material forming the concave-convex structure <NUM> may be a photoresist, and the concave-convex structure may be formed by a photolithographic patterning process using a mask. For example, a mask pattern in the mask may correspond to positions where two sides of the concave-convex structure <NUM> are located. However, in the exposure process, in an edge region of the mask pattern (e.g., corresponding to a region where the two sides of the trapezoidal concave-convex structure <NUM> are located), the light used for exposure may interfere, be scattered or the like, thus resulting in uneven exposure of the photoresist material in the region where the two sides of the concave-convex structure <NUM> are located. After etching, the two sides of the concave-convex structure <NUM> are usually inclined surfaces. In the actual process, the inclined surface is usually an arc-shaped surface. By selecting a property of the photoresist (positive photoresist or negative photoresist) and the specific process, a trapezoidal concave-convex structure <NUM> as shown in <FIG> or an inverted trapezoidal concave-convex structure <NUM> as shown in <FIG> may be formed respectively, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not repeated herein.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the cross-sectional shape of the concave-convex structure <NUM> is an inverted trapezoid. As such, not only can the contact area between the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> be increased, but also the risk of separation of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> from the substrate can be further reduced after the concave-convex structure <NUM> of this shape is embedded in the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. For the above-mentioned substrate <NUM>, even after it is subjected to an external force, the interface between the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> is separated, and the width of the end of the concave-convex structure <NUM> away from the base <NUM> is greater than the width of the end of the concave-convex structure <NUM> close to the base <NUM>, making it difficult to separate the concave-convex structure <NUM> from the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. As a consequence, the transition layer <NUM> can provide the second encapsulation layer <NUM> with a tensile force, which prevents the second encapsulation layer <NUM> from being separated from the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate may further include a dielectric layer disposed at a side of the transition layer away from the second encapsulation layer, and the bonding strength between the dielectric layer and the transition layer is greater than the bonding strength between the dielectric layer and the first encapsulation layer. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a dielectric layer <NUM> is disposed between the base <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM>. The binding force between the dielectric layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM> is great, which can play a transition role between the transition layer <NUM> and the base <NUM> and prevent the transition layer <NUM> from being separated from the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the preparation material of the dielectric layer may include an organic material such as epoxy resin, polyimide, polyamide, acrylic acid or other suitable materials. As such, the preparation materials of the dielectric layer and the transition layer both include the organic material, and the bonding force between them is great. The transition layer is tightly combined with the dielectric layer to be fixed on the substrate, so that the second encapsulation layer can be firmly fixed on the substrate.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the dielectric layer may be provided as a structural layer in the substrate. Illustratively, taking the substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure as a display substrate (e.g., OLED display substrate) as an example, the dielectric layer may be one of a buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a passivation layer, a planarization layer, and a pixel defining layer in the substrate. Thus, the preparation process of the substrate can be simplified, and the thin and light design of the substrate is facilitated.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transition layer may be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as the structural layer in the substrate. Illustratively, taking the substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure as a display substrate (e.g., OLED display substrate) as an example, the transition layer may be configured to be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as one or more of a gate insulating layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a passivation layer, a planarization layer, and a pixel defining layer in the substrate.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate may further include a third encapsulation layer disposed at a side of the second encapsulation layer away from the first main surface, and the preparation materials of the first encapsulation layer and the third encapsulation layer include inorganic materials. Illustratively, as shown in <FIG>, the third encapsulation layer <NUM> is disposed on the second encapsulation layer <NUM>. A preparation material of the third encapsulation layer <NUM> includes an inorganic material such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride or other suitable materials. The inorganic material has a high compactness, which can prevent water, oxygen, and the like from invading the interior of the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthographic projection of the second encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located and an orthographic projection of the transition layer on the plane where the substrate is located are both located within the orthographic projection of the third encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located. Illustratively, as shown in <FIG>, the third encapsulation layer <NUM> completely covers the second encapsulation layer <NUM> and the transition layer <NUM>, so that external water, oxygen and the like can be prevented from invading the interior of the substrate <NUM> through the transition layer <NUM> or the interface between the transition layer <NUM> and other structures (e.g., the second encapsulation layer <NUM> or the dielectric layer <NUM>).

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate may further include a barrier dam located at a side of the transition layer away from the first encapsulation layer, an orthographic projection of the barrier dam on the plane where the substrate is located is located within the orthographic projection of the third encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located, and at least a portion of the barrier dam is disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as the transition layer.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of another substrate provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, an edge region of the substrate <NUM> may be provided with a barrier dam <NUM> (a portion of the substrate <NUM> in <FIG> that is located in a dashed box), the barrier dam <NUM> is located at a side of the transition layer <NUM> away from the first encapsulation layer <NUM>, and the orthographic projection of the barrier dam <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located is located within the orthographic projection of the third encapsulation layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located. The third encapsulation layer <NUM> may cover the barrier dam <NUM>, thus increasing the path for water, oxygen and the like to invade the interior of the substrate <NUM> and improving the encapsulation effect of the substrate <NUM>. For example, the barrier dam <NUM> may be disposed as an annular closed structure, or the barrier dam <NUM> may be disposed as having multiple layers from inside to outside at the edge of the substrate <NUM> , to improve the encapsulation effect of the substrate <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the barrier dam <NUM> may be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as the structural layer in the substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, at least a portion of the barrier dam <NUM> is disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as the transition layer <NUM>. Illustratively, taking the substrate <NUM> in the embodiments of the present disclosure as a display substrate <NUM> (e.g., OLED display substrate <NUM>) as an example, the barrier dam <NUM> may be configured to be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as one or a combination of a gate insulating layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a passivation layer, a planarization layer, and a pixel defining layer in the substrate <NUM>. Furthermore, in the process of forming the transition layer <NUM>, a portion of a material layer for forming the transition layer <NUM> may be extended to a design area of the barrier dam <NUM>, a portion of the material layer overlapping with the second encapsulation layer <NUM> is the transition layer <NUM>, and a portion of the material layer located in the design area of the barrier dam <NUM> serves as at least a portion of the structure of the barrier dam <NUM>. Thus, there is no need to add manufacturing process for preparing the substrate <NUM>; the process is simplified, the cost is reduced, and the thin and light design of the substrate <NUM> is facilitated.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the transition layer <NUM> may also be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as one of the structural layers in the barrier dam <NUM> , or the transition layer <NUM> and one of the structural layers in the barrier dam <NUM> are integrally formed, thus further simplifying the preparation process of the substrate <NUM>. Illustratively, a portion of the gate insulating layer, the interlayer dielectric layer, and the passivation layer in the substrate <NUM> located at the edge of the substrate <NUM> is provided as the barrier dam <NUM>, and accordingly, another portion of the interlayer dielectric layer in the substrate <NUM> located at the edge of the substrate <NUM> may also be simultaneously provided as the transition layer <NUM>. As such, the manufacturing process of the substrate <NUM> can be further simplified, and the design difficulty of the edge portion of the substrate <NUM> can be reduced.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a thickness difference between the second encapsulation layer and, for example, the transition layer, may be appropriately reduced, i.e., the stress difference between the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer may be reduced to prevent the second encapsulation layer from being separated from the substrate. For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, in the second region, a ratio of the thickness of the transition layer to the thickness of the second encapsulation layer may be from <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM>, for example, further <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>/<NUM>, etc..

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of another substrate provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the thickness of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> in the second region <NUM> is smaller than the thickness of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> in the first region <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the thicknesses of the first encapsulation layer, the second encapsulation layer, the third encapsulation layer, the transition layer, and the like are not limited. For example, as shown in <FIG>, in a z-axis direction, the first encapsulation layer <NUM> may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM> microns; the third encapsulation layer <NUM> may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM> microns; the second encapsulation layer <NUM> in the first region <NUM> has a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM> microns. For example, the transition layer <NUM> may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM> microns. The thickness of the transition layer <NUM> is not limited and may be set according to the thickness of the portion of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> located in the second region <NUM>. Illustratively, the second encapsulation layer <NUM> in the second region <NUM> has a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM> microns, and the thickness of the transition layer <NUM> may be set to be about <NUM> to <NUM> microns.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel including the substrate according to any one of the above embodiments. For example, the substrate in the display panel may be a flexible display substrate for application in the field of flexible display. For example, in the display panel provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch substrate may be provided on the display substrate so that the display panel has a touch display function.

For example, the display panel may be applied to any product or component with a display function such as a television, a digital camera, a cellphone, a watch, a tablet PC, a laptop, a navigator, or the like.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for preparing a substrate, comprising: forming a first encapsulation layer, a transition layer and a second encapsulation layer on a base respectively; wherein the first encapsulation layer and the transition layer are formed between the base and the second encapsulation layer and are both in contact with a first main surface of the second encapsulation layer facing the base, the first main surface comprises a first region in contact with the first encapsulation layer and a second region in contact with the transition layer, the second region is located at an edge of the first main surface, and the bonding strength between the transition layer and the second encapsulation layer is greater than the bonding strength between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer. In the substrate obtained by the above preparation method, the transition layer can improve the adhesion of the edge portion of the second encapsulation layer, prevent the second encapsulation layer from being separated from the substrate, and improve the encapsulation yield of the substrate.

For example, in the preparation method provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the preparation materials of the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer both include organic materials. The preparation materials of the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer both include organic materials, and the bonding strength between the organic materials is great, so that the bonding between the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer is firm.

For example, in the preparation method provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the orthographic projection of the transition layer on the plane where the substrate is located is located outside the orthographic projection of the first encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located. As such, the first encapsulation layer will not affect the bonding between the second encapsulation layer and the transition layer.

For example, in the preparation method provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the forming the transition layer includes: performing a patterning process on a surface of the transition layer in contact with the second region, to form at least one concave-convex structure. The concave-convex structure can increase the contact area between the transition layer and the second encapsulation layer, thus increasing the bonding force between them.

For example, the preparation method provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure further includes: depositing an inorganic material film at a side of the second encapsulation layer away from the substrate to form a third encapsulation layer; the orthographic projection of the second encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located and the orthographic projection of the transition layer on the plane where the substrate is located are both located within the orthographic projection of the third encapsulation layer on the plane where the substrate is located. The preparation material of the third encapsulation layer comprises an inorganic material, has a high compactness, and can prevent water, oxygen and the like from invading the interior of the substrate.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference may be made to the relevant contents in the previous embodiments (the embodiments regarding the substrate) for the specific structure of the substrate obtained by the above preparation method, and the embodiments of the present disclosure will not be described in detail here.

<FIG> are process diagrams of a method for preparing a substrate according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. By taking the preparation of the substrate shown in <FIG> as an example, the process of the preparation method of the substrate will be described in the embodiments shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a base <NUM> is provided, and a film including an organic material is deposited on the base <NUM>, and then the film is subjected to a patterning process to form a transition layer <NUM>. It should be noted that the base <NUM> may be formed with structures such as a dielectric layer <NUM> and a barrier dam <NUM>, and the dielectric layer <NUM> and the barrier dam <NUM> may be arranged as structural layers in the substrate <NUM>. In this case, reference may be made to conventional process methods for the preparation process of the dielectric layer <NUM> and the barrier dam <NUM>, and the embodiments of the present disclosure will not be described in detail herein. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the transition layer <NUM> and a certain structural layer in the barrier dam <NUM> may be integrally formed, so that the structural layer integrally formed with the transition layer <NUM> of the barrier dam <NUM> may be synchronously formed in the same patterning process during the above-mentioned preparation of the transition layer <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the preparation material of the base <NUM> is not limited. For example, the preparation material of the base <NUM> may be a glass substrate <NUM>, a quartz substrate <NUM>, or a resin material including, for example, one or more of polyimide, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and the like.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the patterning process may be a photolithographic patterning process. For example, the photolithographic patterning process may include: coating a photoresist film on a structural layer to be patterned, wherein the photoresist film may be coated by spin coating, knife coating or roll coating; exposing the photoresist layer using a mask, and developing the exposed photoresist layer to obtain a photoresist pattern; etching the structural layer by using the photoresist pattern as a mask; and stripping the remaining photoresist material to form the pattern structure as desired.

As shown in <FIG>, an inorganic material film is deposited on the base <NUM> to form the first encapsulation layer <NUM>.

It should be noted that in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first encapsulation layer may be formed first and then the transition layer may be formed. The first forming one of the first encapsulation layer and the transition layer may be selected according to the actual process, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not described in detail herein. As shown in <FIG>, a surface of the transition layer <NUM> is patterned to form at least one concave-convex structure <NUM> on the surface of the transition layer <NUM> away from the base <NUM>. For a shape and a forming method of the concave-convex structure <NUM>, reference may be made to the relevant contents in the previous embodiments (the embodiments regarding the substrate <NUM>), and will not be described in detail here.

As shown in <FIG>, an organic material film is deposited on the base <NUM> and subjected to a patterning process to form a second encapsulation layer <NUM>. It should be noted that in the process of preparing the second encapsulation layer <NUM>, a portion of an edge region of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> may be etched to reduce a thickness of the portion of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> overlapping with the transition layer <NUM>, for example.

As shown in <FIG>, an inorganic material film is deposited at a side of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> away from the base <NUM> to form a third encapsulation layer <NUM>; the orthographic projection of the second encapsulation layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located and the orthographic projection of the transition layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located are both located within the orthographic projection of the third encapsulation layer <NUM> on the plane where the substrate <NUM> is located.

A reference embodiment of the present disclosure provides an encapsulation structure, comprising an encapsulation layer and a transition layer, the encapsulation layer comprising a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer which are laminated with each other. The first encapsulation layer is located on the first main surface of the second encapsulation layer, and the transition layer and the first encapsulation layer are juxtaposed on the first main surface. The first main surface includes a first region in contact with the first encapsulation layer and a second region in contact with the transition layer, the second region is located at an edge of the first main surface, and the bonding strength between the transition layer and the second encapsulation layer is greater than the bonding strength between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer. The transition layer can improve the adhesion of the edge portion of the second encapsulation layer and prevent the second encapsulation layer from being separated from the substrate, thus improving the encapsulation yield of the substrate. The structure of the encapsulation structure may be described as in the previous embodiment (e.g., the substrate in <FIG>) and will not be described in detail here.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate and a display panel, and may have at least one of the following beneficial effects:.

For the present disclosure, the following points need to be explained:.

Claim 1:
A substrate (<NUM>), comprising a base (<NUM>) and an encapsulation structure (<NUM>), the encapsulation structure being located on the base, the encapsulation structure (<NUM>), comprising:
an encapsulation layer, comprising a first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and a second encapsulation layer (<NUM>), wherein the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>) being laminated on the base, the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) being located on a first main surface (<NUM>) of the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>); and
a transition layer (<NUM>), juxtaposed with the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) on the first main surface (<NUM>);
wherein the first main surface (<NUM>) includes a first region (<NUM>) in contact with the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and a second region (<NUM>) in contact with the transition layer (<NUM>), the second region (<NUM>) is located at an edge of the first main surface (<NUM>), and a bonding strength between the transition layer (<NUM>) and the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>) is greater than a bonding strength between the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>);wherein a surface of the transition layer (<NUM>) in contact with the first main surface (<NUM>) is provided with at least one concave-convex structure (<NUM>);
wherein each of the at least one concave-convex structure (<NUM>) is protruded towards the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>) from an interface of the transition layer (<NUM>) and the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>), so that a contact area between the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and the transition layer (<NUM>) increases,
characterized in that
the materials of the second encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and the transition layer (<NUM>) both include organic materials,
the material of the first encapsulation layer (<NUM>) comprise an inorganic material,
the at least one concave-convex structure (<NUM>) is obtainable by a patterning process performed on a surface of the transition layer (<NUM>) in contact with the second region (<NUM>).