A method of encapsulating an environmentally sensitive device. The method includes providing a substrate; placing at least one environmentally sensitive device adjacent to the substrate; and depositing at least one barrier stack adjacent to the environmentally sensitive device, the at least one barrier stack comprising at least one barrier layer and at least one polymeric decoupling layer, wherein the at least one polymeric decoupling layer is made from at least one polymer precursor, and wherein the polymeric decoupling layer has at least one of: a reduced number of polar regions; a high packing density; a reduced number of regions that have bond energies weaker than a C—C covalent bond; a reduced number of ester moieties; increased Mw of the at least one polymer precursor; increased chain length of the at least one polymer precursor; or reduced conversion of C═C bonds. An encapsulated environmentally sensitive device is also described.