Recent advances in the fabrication of nanostructured barrier films

The fabrication of barrier packaging films has gained significant momentum in recent years. Besides its dominance in the food industry as a means to extend the shelf-life of perishable goods and facilitate ease of handling and transportation, the use of barrier films to protect semiconductor and flexible electronics from dust, oxidation and moisture has generated considerable interest in recent years. This has ushered in new challenges for researchers to design and develop novel thin film barrier coatings that could be made available at a fraction of the cost. The emergence of the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology has provided innovative solutions in the fields of medicine, catalysis and energy. In this review, we will be examining the integration of nanoscience driven techniques with barrier film technology with applications in both food and electronics industry. Details regarding permeation theory, some key parameters governing gas/moisture barrier properties and the market potential of nanostructured barrier films have been included. This review also explores several past and current examples of successful inclusion of functional nanostructured or colloidal materials to fabricate tailor-made barrier films. Finally a brief discussion regarding novel emerging trends for this industry has been included.