The Effects of Solvent Treated PEDOT:PSS Layer to Enhance Polymer Solar Cells Efficiency

The present work is a detailed study of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)  PEDOT:PSS films, were made to undergo different treatments to examine how they affected morphology, conductivity, transmittance, as well as the relative effect of the way the organic photovoltaic devices performed. This was done by using the PCPDTBT:PC71BM:SWCNTs and PCPDTBT:PC61BM mixtures. The process involves using DMSO and EG solvents for doping PEDOT:PSS and separately exposing the films to the vapour of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) solvent. After doping solvent was added to the PEDOT:PSS solution, , the conductivity and transmittance of PEDOT:PSS experienced a substantial increment, after which solvent treatment was performed by subjecting these films to NH4OH solvent. When devices were doped using PCPDTBT:PC71BM:SWCNTs or PCPDTBT:PC61BM with power conversion efficiency, The optimal organic photovoltaic devices achieved a 3.68%  as compared to 2.20% for pristine PV devices or 2.67% instead of 1.51%  for pristine devices, respectively. The solvent treatment played a significant part in enhancing conductivity in PEDOT:PSS films.