Controlling of Conductivity and Morphological Properties of Hole-Transport Layer Using Ionic Liquid for Vacuum-Free Planar Hybrid Solar Cells

In this study, an acidic (A) and pH-neutral (pHN) solution using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the hole-transport layer (HTL) was modified using a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM+Cl-) ionic liquid (IL). The effects of this ionic liquid on the conductivity and morphological properties of the PEDOT:PSS films were investigated. The conductivity and morphological properties of the PEDOT: PSS films before and after adding IL were measured using a UV-vis spectrophotometer and atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The conductivity of the A-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid was decreased, while the conductivity of the pHN-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid was increased. The surface morphology of the A-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid was slightly decreased, while the conductivity of the pHN-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid was slightly increased. The vacuum-free planar hybrid solar cells (VFPHSCs) using the pHN-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid show a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than the VFPHSCs using the A-PEDOT:PSS-film-based ionic liquid. We also report that a solar cell with a structure of ITO/pHN-PEDOT:PSS/PTB7:PCBM/PEO/EGaIn has a maximum PCE of about similar to 5%.

Automated summary

In this study, the effects of using a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM+Cl-) ionic liquid on the conductivity and morphological properties of the hole-transport layer (HTL) made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films were investigated. The conductivity of the acidic PEDOT:PSS film was decreased, while the conductivity of the pH-neutral PEDOT:PSS film was increased. The surface morphology of the pH-neutral PEDOT:PSS film slightly changed, while the surface morphology of the acidic PEDOT:PSS film remained relatively unchanged. Vacuum-free planar hybrid solar cells using the pH-neutral PEDOT:PSS film showed higher power conversion efficiency compared to those using the acidic PEDOT:PSS film.