Hydroxymethyl-Functionalized PEDOT-MeOH:PSS for Perovskite Solar Cells

Poly(hydroxymethylated-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-MeOH:PSS) conducting polymers are synthesized and incorporated in inverted structured perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) as hole transport materials. The highest occupied molecular orbital of PEDOT-MeOH is lowered by adding a hydroxymethyl (-MeOH) functional group to ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), and thus, the work function of PEDOT-MeOH:PSS is increased. Additionally, hydrogen bonding can be formed among EDOT-MeOH monomers and between EDOT-MeOH monomers and sulfate groups on PSS, which promotes PEDOT-MeOH chain growth and enhances PSS doping. The electronic, microstructural, and surface morphological properties of PEDOT-MeOH:PSS are modified by changing the amounts of PSS and the ferric oxidizing agent used in the polymerization and by adding ethylene glycol in the postsynthesis treatment. The PVSCs based on ethylene-glycol-treated PEDOT-MeOH:PSS overperform the PVSCs based on commercial PEDOT:PSS because of the better energetic alignment and the enhancement of PEDOT-MeOH:PSS electrical conductivity. This work opens the way to develop new hole transport materials for highly efficient inverted PVSCs.