# Low Work-function Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxylenethiophene): Poly(styrene sulfonate) as Electron-transport Layer for High-efficient and Stable Polymer Solar Cells

## TL;DR

A modified polymer layer improves the efficiency and stability of solar cells by transporting electrons effectively and preventing degradation.

## Contribution

A low-work-function PEIE-modified PEDOT:PSS layer is introduced as an efficient and stable electron transport layer for polymer solar cells.

## Key findings

- PEIE-modified PEDOT:PSS enables electron transport instead of hole transport in solar cells.
- The modified layer achieves a power conversion efficiency of 7.94%, outperforming ZnO-based devices.
- PEIE suppresses device degradation by reducing hygroscopicity and neutralizing acidic PEDOT:PSS.

## Abstract

Low-work-function poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) modified with polyethylenimine (PEIE) was used as an electron transport layer (ETL) for polymer solar cells (PSCs). A thin layer of PEIE film was spin-coated onto the surface on the PEDOT:PSS films, thus substantially changing their charge selectivity from supporting hole transport to supporting electron transport. It was also found that the PEDOT:PSS/PEIE ETL exhibited higher interfacial contact, a more favorable active morphology, and improved charge mobility. By virtue of these beneficial properties, inverted PSCs based on low-bandgap semiconducting photoactive layers achieved a notably improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.94%, superior even to the corresponding performance of devices with only a ZnO layer. Surpassing our expectations, compared with the extreme degradation of device stability observed when pure PEDOT:PSS is used, PEIE-modified PEDOT:PSS can considerably suppress device degradation because of the hydrophobic and alkaline nature of PEIE, which not only reduces the hygroscopicity of the PEDOT:PSS but also neutralizes the acidic PEDOT:PSS and thus prevents the corrosion of the ITO cathode. These results demonstrate the potential of PEIE-modified PEDOT:PSS for use as an efficient ETL in commercial printed electronic devices.