Enhanced Performance of Polymer Solar Cells using PEDOT:PSS Doped with Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles Aligned by an External Magnetostatic Field as an Anode Buffer Layer

Low efficiency and poor stability are two major obstacles limiting the manufacturing of renewable and cost-effective polymer solar cell (PSCs). To address these problems, solution-processed poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) :poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) doped with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles ((PEDOT:PSS):Fe3O4), and above (PEDOT:PSS):Fe3O4 thin film aligned by an external magnetostatic field ([(PEDOT:PSS):Fe3O4] W/H) were used as the anode buffer layer for PSCs, respectively. As compared with PSCs with PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer, 38.5% enhanced efficiency and twice improved stability are observed from PSCs incorporated with [(PEDOT:PSS):Fe3O4] W/H anode buffer layer. It was found that enhanced efficiency and improved stability resulted from a combination of reduced acidity of PEDOT:PSS and enhanced electrical conductivity that originated from generated counterions and the paramagnetism of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles by an external magnetostatic field.