Performance and stability of electroluminescent device with self-assembled layers of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) and polyelectrolytes

Abstract Self-assembled poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT) layers were prepared on polyelectrolytes multilayers (polyethylenimine and polyacrylic acid) on an indium–tin oxide (ITO) surface using a layer-by-layer technique. The electroluminescence efficiencies of the devices were drastically enhanced by the addition of self-assembled PEDOT layers between the spin-coated PEDOT and ITO. The ITO corrosion by the acidic PEDOT and the migration of the indium components across the interfacial layers were inhibited in the presence of the polyelectrolyte multilayers. Remarkably, the lifetime of the device was 60% longer than the one without the self-assemblies, which was attributed to the improvement in the interfacial contact.