Charge transfer in Nanowire-Embedded PEDOT:PSS and Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells

Hybrid metallic nanowires-embedded, highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) with synergetic properties is indispensable for improving the performances of organic-organic or organic-inorganic electronic devices. Here we report embedment of silver nanowires (AgNWs), with an average diameter of 100 nm and a high concentration (500 mg/ml) of nanowires dispersed in either ethanol or isopropanol, in PEDOT:PSS and compare the effects of the nanowire-dispersing solvents as well as its thicker diameter and high concentration on the overall properties, and particularly its charge transfer characteristics and planar heterojunction solar cell (HSC) properties. Furthermore, electrostatic force microscopy is applied to verify the direct charge transfer from AgNWs to the PEDOT:PSS matrix. The AgNW-embedded PEDOT:PSS-based planar HSCs exhibits a very high open-circuit voltage of over 638 mV and a high power conversion efficiency greater than 15.3%, and without any significant ...