A comparative approach to enhance the electrical performance of PEDOT:PSS as transparent electrode for organic solar cells

Abstract

In this article, the improvement in electrical performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the transparent electrode doped with different additives (ethylene glycol (EG), isopropyl alcohol) or treatment of sulfuric acid was enhanced that organic solar cells (OSCs) were produced by using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester. OSCs were fabricated by the doped or treated PEDOT:PSS films as transparent electrodes. The photoelectrical measurements were carried out and the effects of doping or treatment were compared. As a result, EG-added PEDOT:PSS electrode showed the best power conversion efficiency value of 1.87% among the PEDOT:PSS anodes.

Mechanisms for doped PEDOT:PSS electrical conductivity improvement

“…Until now, several researchers have suggested various mechanisms. 22,33,120,34,47,51,69,93,105,118,119 The most stated view from various research papers is the eradication of slight PSS from PEDOT:PSS, possibly due to the phase separation between PEDOT and PSS as well as the conformation of PEDOT chains from a coil structure to an extended coil or linear structure. Based on the topic in the previous section, PEDOT:PSS is a polyelectrolyte consisting of closely bound, positively charged conjugated PEDOT and negatively charged non-conjugated PSS due to strong Coulombic attractions.…”

Recent Progress in Semitransparent Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells

“…Obtaining polymer materials with both good optical and electrical properties is not easy, so not much polymers can be served as TTEs of STPVs. Studies reported mainly use PEDOT:DOT as the electrode, whose conductivity can be increased to several orders of magnitudes by adding additives such as DMSO, [47] ethylene glycol (EG), and isopropyl alcohol [48] or some other methods. [49] Its conductivity almost reached that of ITO electrode.…”