journal article·2026-01

Overcoming the Conductivity‐Stability Trade‐Off in PEDOT:PSS via Hydrogen‐Bond Modulation Enables 20.0% Efficient Bilayer Organic Solar Cells

Xin Li, Yongjoon Cho, Sein Chung, Jiancheng Zhong, Min Zhang, Anhai Liang, Zhenmin Zhao, Safakath Karuthedath, Kilwon Cho, Zhipeng Kan

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 36· Issue 8
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Abstract

Abstract Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS, PP) offers desired optical transparency and solution processability for fabricating organic solar cells. However, its performance is constrained by the insulating PSS shell that compromises conductivity and induces interfacial incompatibility. Herein, the study proposes a carboxyl‐functionalized molecular modifier, resorcinol‐O, O'‐diacetic acid (RODA), which optimizes the intrinsic properties of PP and synergistically regulates the aggregation dynamics of the PM6 layer. The carboxylic acid groups (─COOH) in RODA form robust hydrogen bonds with the sulfonic acid groups (─SO 3 H) moieties of PSS, inducing phase segregation that disrupts the core‐shell architecture of PP while lowering its acidity. This structural regulation enhances PP‐RODA conductivity and optimizes energy with the PM6's highest occupied molecular orbital level. Concurrently, the modified PP layer promotes the molecular packing of PM6, inducing J‐aggregation with extended π‐conjugation. The dual optimization of the hole transporting layer's conductivity and active layer ordering enables efficiency of 19.97% with a champion efficiency reaching 20.00%, outperforming those of the control devices (18.37%). This work establishes a paradigm for multifunctional interfacial engineering, providing molecular‐level insights into the design of high‐performance device interfaces.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Conducting polymers and applications · Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Center on Nanoenergy Research Carbon Peak and Neutrality Science and Technology Development Institute School of Physical Science and Engineering Technology Guangxi University Nanning 530004 China

Department of Physics and Chemistry Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea

Department of Chemical Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang 37673 Republic of Korea

Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollutant Sensitive Materials and Environmental Remediation School of Physics and Electronic Information Huaibei Normal University Huaibei 235000 China

Institute of Materials Research Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School Tsinghua University Shenzhen 518055 China

Funding

Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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