Reducing the Depletion Region Width at the Anode Interface via a Highly Doped Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Composite for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

In the realm of organic solar cells (OSCs), the width of the depletion region at the anode interface is a critical factor that adversely impacts the open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). To address this challenge, a novel approach involving a conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE)-based composite, PCP-2F–Li:POM, has been developed. This composite serves as a solution-processed hole transport layer (HTL), effectively minimizing the depletion region width in high-performance OSCs. The innovative aspect of PCP-2F–Li:POM lies in its “mutual doping” mechanism. Polyoxometalate (POM) is utilized as a dopant, facilitating the formation of p-doped CPE and n-doped POM within the composite. This results in a substantial increase in doping density, nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher than that observed in unmodified CPE. Consequently, the width of depletion region is markedly reduced, shrinking from 76.4 to 6.0 nm. This reduction plays a pivotal role in enhancing hole transport via the tunneling effect. The practical impact of this development is notable. It leads to an increase in V oc from 0.84 to 0.86 V, thereby contributing significantly to an impressive PCE of 18.04% in OSCs. Moreover, the compatibility of PCP-2F–Li:POM with large-area processing techniques underscores its potential as a viable HTL material for future practical applications. Additionally, its contribution to the enhanced long-term stability of OSCs further bolsters its suitability for practical applications.