Functional solid additive modified PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer for enhanced photovoltaic performance and stability in polymer solar cells

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is most commonly used as an anode buffer layer in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, its hygroscopic and acidic nature contributes to the insufficient electrical conductivity, air stability and restricted photovoltaic (PV) performance for the fabricated PSCs. In this study, a new multifunctional additive, 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DOH), has been used in the PEDOT: PSS buffer layer to obtain modified properties for PEDOT: PSS@DOH and achieve high PV performances. The electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS@DOH films was markedly improved compared with that of PEDOT:PSS. The PEDOT:PSS@DOH film exhibited excellent optical characteristics, appropriate work function alignment, and good surface properties in BHJ-PSCs. When a poly(3-hexylthiohpene):[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend system was applied as the photoactive layer, the power conversion efficiency of the resulting PSCs with PEDOT:PSS@DOH(1.0%) reached 3.49%, outperforming pristine PEDOT:PSS, exhibiting a power conversion enhancement of 20%. The device fabricated using PEDOT:PSS@DOH (1.0 wt%) also exhibited improved thermal and air stability. Our results also confirm that DOH, a basic pyridine derivative, facilitates adequate hydrogen bonding interactions with the sulfonic acid groups of PSS, induces the conformational transformation of PEDOT chains and contributes to the phase separation between PEDOT and PSS chains.

Blood Pressure Sensors: Materials, Fabrication Methods, Performance Evaluations and Future Perspectives

“…The use of conducting polymers such as PEDOT: PSS seeks to bridge the gaps in the performance associated with other electrode materials, including poor stretchability, low conductivity, and little stability [323]. Though, the acidic nature of PEDOT: PSS (pH is between 1 and 2) can cause corrosion to any metallic interface with the PEDOT: PSS-based electrodes that can degrade the overall performance of the device [329].…”

A bright outlook on organic photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting

“…[69][70][71] Another source of instability for OPV devices is related to the electrode or interfacial materials, for example in the use of easily oxidised, low-workfunction metal electrodes 72 or the acidic, hygroscopic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) hole transport layer, as discussed above. 73 These factors will certainly need to be taken into consideration when transferring this research to OPEC applications, as indeed will the stability of these materials under operation in aqueous conditions, which has not yet been studied.…”

Manganese and Graphene Included Titanium Dioxide Composite Nanowires: Fabrication, Characterization and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities

“…Considering these issues and the demands for future advanced applications of TiO 2 , there exists a need for the development of newly modified materials based on TiO 2 having enhanced performances with respect to the photocatalytic properties. Strategies are being continuously evolved to modulate the properties of TiO 2 and other metal oxides [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] towards achieving improved performances that include nanostructuring, generation of oxygen defects, chemical (metal or non-metal) doping, surface sensitization/modification, interface modification [12][13][14][15][16] and combining other semiconductors or other components to form nanocomposites/nanohybrids toward myriad of applications (energy, environment and health) [17][18][19][20].…”