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Functional solid additive modified PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer for enhanced photovoltaic performance and
Binrui Xu1, Sai-Anand Gopalan1,2, Anantha-Iyengar Gopalan3,4
1School of Electronics Engineering, College of IT Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, 41566, Daegu, Korea.
Scientific Reports
|March 25, 2017
Summary
Adding 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DOH) to Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) significantly boosts polymer solar cell performance. This PEDOT:PSS@DOH buffer layer enhances conductivity, stability, and power conversion efficiency by 20%.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a standard anode buffer layer in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs).
- The inherent hygroscopic and acidic nature of PEDOT:PSS limits its electrical conductivity, air stability, and overall photovoltaic (PV) performance.
- Addressing these limitations is crucial for advancing PSC technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a novel multifunctional additive, 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DOH), on the properties of PEDOT:PSS.
- To enhance the performance of BHJ-PSCs by utilizing a modified PEDOT:PSS@DOH buffer layer.
- To understand the underlying mechanisms through which DOH improves PEDOT:PSS characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of DOH as an additive into the PEDOT:PSS buffer layer to create PEDOT:PSS@DOH films.
- Characterization of the electrical conductivity, optical properties, work function, and surface morphology of the modified films.
- Fabrication and performance testing of BHJ-PSCs using the PEDOT:PSS@DOH buffer layer with a poly(3-hexylthiohpene):[6,6]-phenyl C$_{61}$-butyric acid methyl ester photoactive layer.
Main Results:
- The electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS@DOH films was significantly improved compared to pristine PEDOT:PSS.
- PEDOT:PSS@DOH films demonstrated excellent optical characteristics, suitable work function alignment, and favorable surface properties.
- PSCs utilizing PEDOT:PSS@DOH (1.0 wt%) achieved a power conversion efficiency of 3.49%, a 20% enhancement over devices with unmodified PEDOT:PSS.
- The modified devices also exhibited superior thermal and air stability.
Conclusions:
- 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DOH) effectively modifies PEDOT:PSS, leading to enhanced electrical and physical properties.
- The basic nature of DOH facilitates hydrogen bonding with PSS, promoting PEDOT chain conformational changes and phase separation, which improves device performance.
- The PEDOT:PSS@DOH buffer layer represents a promising strategy for achieving high-performance and stable BHJ-PSCs.
