Patent ID: 8722160

Claim:
A device comprising: a solar cell encapsulated with a self-assembled barrier film structure thereon comprised of: a plurality of layers of an inorganic material; and a plurality of layers each consisting of an organic polymer wherein the layers of organic polymer alternate with the layers of inorganic material and wherein more than one of layers of the organic polymer contain a superhydrophobic material; wherein adjacent layers of the organic polymer and the inorganic material are covalently bonded layers characterized by direct organic polymer to inorganic material covalent bonds which form in the self-assembled barrier film structure even with superhydrophobic material in more than one of the layers of the organic polymer; wherein random location of pinholes in the layers of the inorganic material and the layers of the organic polymer requires a tortuous pathway marked by repeated turns or bends for any water to pass through the self-assembled barrier film structure, wherein the superhydrophobic material in more than one of the layers of the organic polymer provide surfaces that impede that movement of water between adjacent layers of the organic polymer and the inorganic material.