NOVELTY - Making an edge-sealed, encapsulated environmentally sensitive device (400) involves: providing an environmentally sensitive device (D1) (430) on a substrate (405); placing an edge-sealed barrier stack (S1) (440) adjacent to the device (D1); and sealing the device (D1) between the substrate and the stack (S1) forming an device (D1) seal, where an oxygen transmission rate through the device (D1) seal is less than 0.005 cc/m2/day at 23 degrees C and 0% relative humidity.    USE - For making an edge-sealed, encapsulated environmentally sensitive device (claimed) including organic light emitting device, liquid crystal display, display using electrophoretic inks, light emitting diode, light emitting polymer, electroluminescent device, phosphorescent device, organic solar cell, inorganic solar cell, thin film batteries, and/or thin film devices with vias.    ADVANTAGE - The environmentally sensitive device is a device which requires protection from moisture, gas, or other contaminants. The barrier stacks provide oxygen and water vapor permeation rates several orders of magnitude better than PET coated with aluminum, silicon oxide, or aluminum oxide. Typical oxygen permeation rates for other barrier coatings is 1-0.1 cc/m2/day. The oxygen transmission rate for the barrier stacks of the present invention is less than 0.005 cc/m2/day at 23 degrees C and 0% relative humidity, and at 38 degrees C and 90% relative humidity. The water vapor transmission rate is less than 0.005 g/m2/day at 38 degrees C and 100% relative humidity. The actual transmission rates are lower, but cannot be measured with existing equipment.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Making an edge-sealed, encapsulated environmentally sensitive device (D1) (400) involves: providing the device (D1) (430) on a substrate (405); placing an edge-sealed barrier stack (S1) (440) adjacent to the device (D1); and sealing the device (D1) between the substrate and the stack (S1) forming an device (D1) seal, where an oxygen transmission rate through the device (D1) seal is less than 0.005 cc/m2/day at 23 degrees C and 0% relative humidity. The stack (S1) comprises a decoupling layer (410) and at least two barrier layers. The decoupling layer has an area, the first barrier layer has an area, and the second barrier layer has an area. The area of the first and second barrier layers is greater than the area of the decoupling layer. The decoupling layer is sealed between the first and second barrier layers, where at least one barrier layer of the stack (S1) is in contact with the substrate.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-section of an edge-sealed, encapsulated environmentally sensitive device.    Edge-sealed, encapsulated environmentally sensitive device (400)    Substrate (405)    Decoupling layers (410, 412)    Barrier layers (415, 435)    Second barrier layer (417)    Initial barrier stacks (420, 422)    Environmentally sensitive device (430)    Barrier stack (440)