Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Promoting the photovoltaic performance and stability of organic solar cells by imidazole-doped PEDOT:PSS

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Owing to the merits of solution processable, tunable electrical conductivity, high transparency and so forth, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been one of the most widely used hole transport layers (HTL) in organic solar cells (OSCs), particularly in conventional cell architectures. However, the inherent acid and hygroscopic nature as well as the relatively low conductivity of the as-prepared PEDOT:PSS, seriously attenuated the stability and efficiency of the corresponding devices. To address this issue, in this contribution, the mild organic base imidazole (IM) was introduced as dopant to neutralize the acidity and improve the conductivity of the as-prepared PEDOT:PSS. Using PTB7-Th:PC71BM as active layer, the OSCs devices based on imidazole treated PEDOT:PSS (PEDOT:PSS-IM) shows a best of 10.09%, which is much higher than that of the un-treated PEDOT:PSS-based devices. Moreover, the PEDOT:PSS-IM-based devices display much better stability. For comparison, devices using 1-methylimidazole (MIM)-doped PEDOT:PSS as hole transport layer (HTL) has been explored. However, an inferior PCE of 8.97% was obtained. These results indicate that the hydrogen bonding interactions between imidazole and PSS plays vital role in elevating the photovoltaic performance and stability of OSCs. Additionally, PEDOT:PSS-IM also displays enhanced performance in the case of other devices with different active layers, indicating a good university in OSCs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

References

  1. J. Liang, M. Pan, G. Chai, Z. Peng, J. Zhang, S. Luo, Q. Han, Y. Chen, A. Shang, F. Bai, Y. Xu, H. Yu, J.Y.L. Lai, Q. Chen, M. Zhang, H. Ade, H. Yan, Adv. Mater. 32, e2003500 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. H. Chen, X. Xia, J. Yuan, Q. Wei, W. Liu, Z. Li, C. Zhu, X. Wang, H. Guan, X. Lu, Y. Li, Y. Zou, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 13, 36053–36061 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Y. Qin, Y. Xu, Z. Peng, J. Hou, H. Ade, Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 2005011 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Wu, G. Li, J. Fang, X. Guo, L. Zhu, B. Guo, Y. Wang, G. Zhang, L. Arunagiri, F. Liu, H. Yan, M. Zhang, Y. Li, Nat. Commun. 11, 4612–4620 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. Chen, R. Zhang, X. Chen, G. Zeng, L. Kobera, S. Abbrent, B. Zhang, W. Chen, G. Xu, J. Oh, S.-H. Kang, S. Chen, C. Yang, J. Brus, J. Hou, F. Gao, Y. Li, Y. Li, Nat. Energy 6, 1045–1053 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Cui, Y. Xu, H. Yao, P. Bi, L. Hong, J. Zhang, Y. Zu, T. Zhang, J. Qin, J. Ren, Z. Chen, C. He, X. Hao, Z. Wei, J. Hou, Adv. Mater. 33, e2102420 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. B. Fan, F. Lin, J. Oh, H. Fu, W. Gao, Q. Fan, Z. Zhu, W.J. Li, N. Li, L. Ying, F. Huang, C. Yang, A.K.Y. Jen, Adv. Energy Mater. 11, 2101768 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. C. Guo, D. Li, L. Wang, B. Du, Z.X. Liu, Z. Shen, P. Wang, X. Zhang, J. Cai, S. Cheng, C. Yu, H. Wang, D. Liu, C.Z. Li, T. Wang, Adv. Energy Mater. 11, 2102000 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. R. Sun, W. Wang, H. Yu, Z. Chen, X. Xia, H. Shen, J. Guo, M. Shi, Y. Zheng, Y. Wu, W. Yang, T. Wang, Q. Wu, Y. Yang, X. Lu, J. Xia, C.J. Brabec, H. Yan, Y. Li, J. Min, Joule 5, 1548 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Jeong, J. Oh, Y. Cho, B. Lee, S. Jeong, S.M. Lee, S.H. Kang, C. Yang, Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2102371 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. J. Liu, S. Chen, D. Qian, B. Gautam, G. Yang, J. Zhao, J. Bergqvist, F. Zhang, W. Ma, H. Ade, O. Inganäs, K. Gundogdu, F. Gao, H. Yan, Nat. Energy 1, 16089–16095 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. G. Zhang, X. Xu, Y.W. Lee, H.Y. Woo, Y. Li, Q. Peng, Adv. Funct. Mater. 29, 1902079 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. Zhang, Y. Li, J. Huang, H. Hu, G. Zhang, T. Ma, P.C.Y. Chow, H. Ade, D. Pan, H. Yan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 139, 16092–16095 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. T. Jia, J. Zhang, W. Zhong, Y. Liang, K. Zhang, S. Dong, L. Ying, F. Liu, X. Wang, F. Huang, Y. Cao, Nano Energy 72, 104718 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. F. Peng, K. An, W. Zhong, Z. Li, L. Ying, N. Li, Z. Huang, C. Zhu, B. Fan, F. Huang, Y. Cao, ACS Energy Lett. 5, 3702–3707 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Q. Wu, W. Wang, T. Wang, R. Sun, J. Guo, Y. Wu, X. Jiao, C.J. Brabec, Y. Li, J. Min, Sci. China: Chem. 63, 1449–1460 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. H. Yu, Z. Qi, J. Yu, Y. Xiao, R. Sun, Z. Luo, A.M.H. Cheung, J. Zhang, H. Sun, W. Zhou, S. Chen, X. Guo, X. Lu, F. Gao, J. Min, H. Yan, Adv. Energy Mater. 11, 2003171 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Z.A. Li, C.-C. Chueh, A.K.Y. Jen, Prog. Polym. Sci. 99, 101175 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. H. Liu, Y. Li, S. Xu, Y. Zhou, Z.A. Li, Adv. Funct. Mater 31, 2106735 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. H. Liu, W. Wang, Y. Zhou, Z.A. Li, J. Mater. Chem. A. 9, 1080–1088 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. T.L. Benanti, D. Venkataraman, Photosynth. Res. 87, 73–81 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. L. Zhang, W. Ma, J. Polym. Sci. 35, 184–197 (2016)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Y. Xie, F. Yang, Y. Li, M.A. Uddin, P. Bi, B. Fan, Y. Cai, X. Hao, H.Y. Woo, W. Li, F. Liu, Y. Sun, Adv. Mater. 30, e1803045 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Z. Zhou, W. Liu, G. Zhou, M. Zhang, D. Qian, J. Zhang, S. Chen, S. Xu, C. Yang, F. Gao, H. Zhu, F. Liu, X. Zhu, Adv. Mater. 32, e1906324 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. P.W.M. Blom, V.D. Mihailetchi, L.J.A. Koster, D.E. Markov, Adv. Mater. 19, 1551–1566 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. B. Walker, A.B. Tamayo, X.-D. Dang, P. Zalar, J.H. Seo, A. Garcia, M. Tantiwiwat, T.-Q. Nguyen, Adv. Funct. Mater. 19, 3063–3069 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. J.-T. Chen, C.-S. Hsu, Polym. Chem. 2, 2707–2722 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Y. Wang, S.W. Tong, X.F. Xu, B. Ozyilmaz, K.P. Loh, Adv. Mater. 23, 1514–1518 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Z.-G. Zhang, B. Qi, Z. Jin, D. Chi, Z. Qi, Y. Li, J. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci. 7, 1966–1973 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Z. Wu, C. Sun, S. Dong, X.F. Jiang, S. Wu, H. Wu, H.L. Yip, F. Huang, Y. Cao, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138, 2004–2016 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Z. Yin, J. Wei, Q. Zheng, Adv. Sci. 3, 1500362 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. X. Li, W. Zhang, K. Usman, J. Fang, Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1702730 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. L.Y. Su, H.H. Huang, Y.C. Lin, G.L. Chen, W.C. Chen, W. Chen, L. Wang, C.C. Chueh, Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2005753 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. J. Yao, B. Qiu, Z.G. Zhang, L. Xue, R. Wang, C. Zhang, S. Chen, Q. Zhou, C. Sun, C. Yang, M. Xiao, L. Meng, Y. Li, Nat. Commun. 11, 2726–2735 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. D. Alemu, H.-Y. Wei, K.-C. Ho, C.-W. Chu, Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 9662–9671 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Y. Jiang, T. Liu, Y. Zhou, Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 2006213 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. W. Yu, K. Wang, B. Guo, X. Qiu, Y. Hao, J. Chang, Y. Li, J. Power Sources 358, 29–38 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. W. Han, G. Ren, J. Liu, Z. Li, H. Bao, C. Liu, W. Guo, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 12, 49297–49322 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. S.-I. Na, G. Wang, S.-S. Kim, T.-W. Kim, S.-H. Oh, B.-K. Yu, T. Lee, D.-Y. Kim, J. Mater. Chem. 19, 9045–9053 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. K.-J. Kim, Y.-S. Kim, W.-S. Kang, B.-H. Kang, S.-H. Yeom, D.-E. Kim, J.-H. Kim, S.-W. Kang, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. C. 94, 1303–1306 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. J.P. Thomas, L. Zhao, D. McGillivray, K.T. Leung, J. Mater. Chem. A. 2, 2383–2389 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. I. Lee, G.W. Kim, M. Yang, T.S. Kim, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 8, 302–310 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. D. Huang, T. Goh, J. Kong, Y. Zheng, S. Zhao, Z. Xu, A.D. Taylor, Nanoscale 9, 4236–4243 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Q. Li, J. Yang, S. Chen, J. Zou, W. Xie, X. Zeng, Nanoscale Res. Lett. 12, 506–513 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. M. Kankanan, A. Kosarian, E. Farshidi, J. Mater. Sci-Mater. El. 29, 12387–12398 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ç.K. Kurukavak, S. Polat, Polym. Polym. Compos. 29, 1222–1228 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  47. P. Li, M.I.O. Mohamed, C. Xu, X. Wang, X. Tang, Org. Electron. 78, 105582–105587 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. H.-J. Jhuo, P.-N. Yeh, S.-H. Liao, Y.-L. Li, S. Sharma, S.-A. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. A. 3, 9291–9297 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. K.-G. Lim, S. Ahn, H. Kim, M.-R. Choi, D.H. Huh, T.-W. Lee, Adv. Mater. Interfaces 3, 1500678 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. K.-G. Lim, S. Ahn, Y.-H. Kim, Y. Qi, T.-W. Lee, Energy Environ. Sci. 9, 932–939 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. D. Liu, Y. Li, J. Yuan, Q. Hong, G. Shi, D. Yuan, J. Wei, C. Huang, J. Tang, M.-K. Fung, J. Mater. Chem. A. 5, 5701–5708 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. W. Sun, Y. Li, Y. Xiao, Z. Zhao, S. Ye, H. Rao, H. Ting, Z. Bian, L. Xiao, C. Huang, Z. Chen, Org. Electron. 46, 22–27 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. B. Xu, S.A. Gopalan, A.I. Gopalan, N. Muthuchamy, K.P. Lee, J.S. Lee, Y. Jiang, S.W. Lee, S.W. Kim, J.S. Kim, H.M. Jeong, J.B. Kwon, J.H. Bae, S.W. Kang, Sci. Rep. 7, 45079–45090 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. M. Zeng, X. Wang, R. Ma, W. Zhu, Y. Li, Z. Chen, J. Zhou, W. Li, T. Liu, Z. He, H. Yan, F. Huang, Y. Cao, Adv. Energy Mater. 10, 2000743 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. L. Zhang, K. Yang, R. Chen, Y. Zhou, S. Chen, Y. Zheng, M. Li, C. Xu, X. Tang, Z. Zang, K. Sun, Adv. Electron. Mater. 6, 1900648 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. K. Yang, S. Chen, J. Fu, S. Jung, J. Ye, Z. Kan, C. Hu, C. Yang, Z. Xiao, S. Lu, K. Sun, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 12, 30954–30961 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Y. Li, W. Zeng, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 301, 133–140 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. C. Duan, M. Zhao, C. Zhao, Y. Wang, J. Li, W. Han, Q. Hu, L. Yao, H. Jian, F. Lu, T. Jiu, Mater. Today. Energy 9, 487–495 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  59. Q. Wang, C.C. Chueh, M. Eslamian, A.K. Jen, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 8, 32068–32076 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. W. Hu, C.Y. Xu, L.B. Niu, A.M. Elseman, G. Wang, B. Liu, Y.Q. Yao, L.P. Liao, G.D. Zhou, Q.L. Song, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 11, 22021–22027 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. P. Tehrani, A. Kanciurzewska, X. Crispin, N. Robinson, M. Fahlman, M. Berggren, Solid State Ionics 177, 3521–3527 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. T.-C. Tsai, H.-C. Chang, C.-H. Chen, Y.-C. Huang, W.-T. Whang, Org. Electron. 15, 641–645 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. H.J. Lee, G. Anoop, H.J. Lee, C. Kim, J.-W. Park, J. Choi, H. Kim, Y.-J. Kim, E. Lee, S.-G. Lee, Y.-M. Kim, J.-H. Lee, J.Y. Jo, Energy Environ. Sci. 9, 2806–2811 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Y. Yang, J. Wang, H. Xu, X. Zhan, X. Chen, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 10, 18984–18992 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Y. Lin, J. Wang, Z.G. Zhang, H. Bai, Y. Li, D. Zhu, X. Zhan, Adv. Mater. 27, 1170–1174 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. M. Wu, J.P. Yi, L. Chen, G. He, F. Chen, M.Y. Sfeir, J. Xia, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 10, 27894–27901 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. J. Yuan, Y. Zhang, L. Zhou, G. Zhang, H.-L. Yip, T.-K. Lau, X. Lu, C. Zhu, H. Peng, P.A. Johnson, M. Leclerc, Y. Cao, J. Ulanski, Y. Li, Y. Zou, Joule 3, 1140–1152 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 21801201, 51773160, 21975194, and 22175134), the Research Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province (2019CFA042).

Funding

Funding was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 21801201, 51773160, 21975194, and 22175134), the Research Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province (2019CFA042).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Center of Smart Materials and Devices, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Hao Shen, Tian Hu, Huaxi Huang, Di Wu & Jianlong Xia

  2. School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Di Wu & Jianlong Xia

Authors
  1. Hao Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tian Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Huaxi Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Di Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianlong Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. HS and TH fabricated all the solar cell samples, conducted the measurements and performed data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by HS and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Di Wu or Jianlong Xia.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts to declare.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1848 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shen, H., Hu, T., Huang, H. et al. Promoting the photovoltaic performance and stability of organic solar cells by imidazole-doped PEDOT:PSS. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 12083–12092 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-08168-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-08168-y

Search

Navigation