Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a popular hole transport material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the devices with PEDOT:PSS exhibit large open‐circuit voltage (Voc) loss and low efficiency, which is attributed to mismatched energy level alignment and the poor interface of PEDOT:PSS and perovskite. Here, three polymer analogues to polyaniline (PANI), PANI–carbazole (P1), PANI–phenoxazine (P2), and PANI–phenothiazine (P3) are designed with different energy levels to modify the interface between PEDOT:PSS and the perovskite layer and improve the device performance. The effects of the polymers on the device performance are demonstrated by evaluating the work function adjustment, perovskite growth control, and interface modification in MAPbI3‐based PSCs. Low bandgap Sn–Pb‐based PSCs are also fabricated to confirm the effects of the polymers. Three effects are evaluated through the comparison study of PEDOT:PSS‐based organic solar cells and MAPbI3 PSCs based on the PEDOT:PSS modified by P1, P2, and P3. The order of contribution for the three effects is work function adjustment > surface modification > perovskite growth control. MAPbI3 PSCs modified with P2 exhibit a high Voc of 1.13 V and a high‐power conversion efficiency of 21.06%. This work provides the fundamental understanding of the interface passivation effects for PEDOT:PSS‐based optoelectronic devices.

Supercapacitor energy storage devices are well suited to meet the rigorous demands of future portable consumer electronics (PCEs) due to their high energy and power densities (i.e., longer battery-life and rapid charging, respectively) and superior operational lifetimes (10 times greater than lithium-ion batteries). To date, research efforts have been narrowly focused on improving the specific capacitance of these materials; however, emerging technologies are increasingly demanding competitive performance with regards to other criteria, including scalability of fabrication and electrochemical stability. In this regard, we developed a polyaniline (PANI) derivative that contains a carbazole unit copolymerized with 2,5-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (Cbz-PANI-1) and determined its optoelectronic properties, electrical conductivity, processability, and electrochemical stability. Importantly, the polymer exhibits good solubility in various solvents, which enables the use of scalable spray-coating and drop-casting methods to fabricate electrodes. Cbz-PANI-1 was used to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitor devices that exhibits a maximum areal capacitance of 64.8 mF cm −2 and specific capacitance of 319 F g −1 at a current density of 0.2 mA cm −2 . Moreover, the electrode demonstrates excellent cyclic stability (≈ 83% of capacitance retention) over 1000 CV cycles. Additionally, we demonstrate the charge storage performance of Cbz-PANI-1 in a symmetrical supercapacitor device, which also exhibits excellent cyclic stability (≈ 91% of capacitance retention) over 1000 charge−discharge cycles.

Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most accessible conducting polymers and is known for its environmental stability in its partially oxidized conductive state. However, it is difficult to process and undergoes electrochemical degradation between its partially and fully oxidized states. While there have been several approaches to address PANI’s processability, little has been done to address its electrochemical instability. We have prepared two polyaniline derivatives that contain a phenoxazine unit copolymerized with 2,5-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (P1) and p-phenylenediamine (P2) and determined their optoelectronic properties, processability, morphology, and electrochemical stability. Camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) doped polymers were dissolved in organic solvents and cast into films, which were analyzed by absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and conductivity measurements. Importantly, the films exhibit outstanding electrochemical stability over multiple redox and spectroelectrochemical cycles and conductivity in the high semiconductive regime (0.1 to 1 S/cm) when exposed to m-cresol vapors. Additionally, P1 exists as aggregates in the absence of m-cresol vapors, but as highly conductive sheet-like structures in the presence of m-cresol as shown by SEM, TEM, and AFM images. These results show that P1 and P2 would be outstanding candidates for applications that required stable redox conductive polymers.

An eco-friendly ultrasound-assisted procedure was developed for the preparation of a series of novel pyridazinium ionic liquids (ILs) 1-8.