Unraveling the Enhanced Electrical Conductivity of PEDOT:PSS Thin Films for ITO-Free Organic Photovoltaics

Author

Sheng Hsiung Chang ; Chien-Hung Chiang ; Feng-Sheng Kao ; Chuen-Lin Tien ; Chun-Guey Wu

Author_Institution

Res. Center for New Generation Photovoltaics, Nat. Central Univ., Jongli, Taiwan

Volume

6

Issue

4

fYear

2014

fDate

Aug. 2014

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

7

Abstract

We present the structure and the optical and mechanical properties of highly conductive PEDOT:PSS (1:2.5 wt%, PH1000) thin films fabricated with and without an immersion treatment process using a solution containing 67% ethylene glycol and 33% hexafluoro-isopropyl alcohol, by volume. The enhanced electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS thin films originated from the formation of a conducting PEDOT network in combination with an increased electron concentration due to the conformational changes in the PEDOT chains. The modified PEDOT:PSS thin film was used as a transparent anode electrode for P3HT:PCBM blended film-based photovoltaics, resulting in a power conversion efficiency of 3.28% under 1-sun illumination.

Keywords

Raman spectra; compressive strength; conducting polymers; electrical conductivity; electron density; infrared spectra; polymer blends; polymer films; solar cells; thin film devices; visible spectra; 1-sun illumination; ITO-free organic photovoltaics; P3HT-PCBM blended film-based photovoltaics; PEDOT chains; conducting PEDOT network; conductive PEDOT-PSS thin films; conformational changes; electrical conductivity; electron concentration; ethylene glycol solution; hexafluoro-isopropyl alcohol solution; immersion treatment process; mechanical properties; optical properties; power conversion efficiency; structure properties; transparent anode electrode; Adhesives; Annealing; Conductivity; Electrodes; Films; Photovoltaic systems; Optoelectronic materials; organic materials; photovoltaics;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1943-0655

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPHOT.2014.2331254

Filename

6849426