Abstract
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is typically used for hole transport layers (HTLs), as it exhibits attractive mechanical, electrical properties, and easy processability. However, the intrinsically acidic property can degrade the crystallinity of perovskites, limiting the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, inverted CH3NH3PbI3 photovoltaic cells were fabricated with acidity suppressed HTL. We adjusted PEDOT:PSS via a solution reaction of acidic and neutral PEDOT:PSS. And we compared the various pH-controlled HTLs for PSCs devices. The smoothness of the pH-controlled PEDOT:PSS layer was similar to that of acidic PEDOT:PSS-based devices. These layers induced favorable crystallinity of perovskite compared with acidic PEDOT:PSS layers. Furthermore, the enhanced stability of pH optimized PEDOT:PSS-based devices, including the prevention of degradation by a strong acid, allowed the device to retain its power conversion efficiency (PCE) value by maintaining 80% of PCE for approximately 150 h. As a result, the pH-controlled HTL layer fabricated through the solution reaction maintained the surface morphology of the perovskite layer and contributed to the stable operation of PSCs.
Highlights
The advances in organic optoelectronics rely on the ability to control various transport properties of devices by controlling the morphology and interface deformation and changing charge carrier density and mobility
We suppressed the acidity of PEDOT:poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) by blending acidic and neutral PEDOT:PSS solutions at the optimal volume ratio which enhanced the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs)
With the pH-controlled PEDOT:PSS, PSCs showed improved VOC values and similar levels of JSC compared with pH-controlled PEDOT:PSS, PSCs showed improved VOC values and similar levels of JSC compared those of acidic PEDOT:PSS-based PSCs
Summary
The advances in organic optoelectronics rely on the ability to control various transport properties of devices by controlling the morphology and interface deformation and changing charge carrier density and mobility. The most promising material is poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) (PEDOT:PSS), which consists of a conducting polythiophene derivative bound to a PSS polyanion [7,8] Because this polymeric system simultaneously has high electrical conductivity, high mechanical flexibility, and good transparency in the visible range [7,8,9,10,11,12,13], it has been widely applied for organic photovoltaics, flexible electrodes, light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, and thermoelectric generator [7,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
