Solution-Processed Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Flexible Organic Solar Cells with 16.61% Efficiency

HighlightsThe PEDOT:PSS flexible electrodes with a unique CF3SO3H treatment exhibited high electrical characteristics and stability.An energy level tuning effect was induced to create a suitable work function.Flexible organic solar cells yielded a record-high efficiency of 16.61%, a high flexibility, and a good thermal stability. AbstractNonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved breakthrough with pushing the efficiency exceeding 17%. While this shed light on OSC commercialization, high-performance flexible OSCs should be pursued through solution manufacturing. Herein, we report a solution-processed flexible OSC based on a transparent conducting PEDOT:PSS anode doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3SO3H). Through a low-concentration and low-temperature CF3SO3H doping, the conducting polymer anodes exhibited a main sheet resistance of 35 Omega sq(-1) (minimum value: 32 Omega sq(-1)), a raised work function (approximate to 5.0 eV), a superior wettability, and a high electrical stability. The high work function minimized the energy level mismatch among the anodes, hole-transporting layers and electron-donors of the active layers, thereby leading to an enhanced carrier extraction. The solution-processed flexible OSCs yielded a record-high efficiency of 16.41% (maximum value: 16.61%). Besides, the flexible OSCs afforded the 1000 cyclic bending tests at the radius of 1.5 mm and the long-time thermal treatments at 85 degrees C, demonstrating a high flexibility and a good thermal stability.

Automated summary

The PEDOT:PSS flexible electrodes treated with CF3SO3H showed high electrical characteristics and stability, contributing to a suitable work function and an enhanced carrier extraction. The flexible organic solar cells achieved a record-high efficiency of 16.61%, along with high flexibility and good thermal stability, proving to be a promising solution for commercialization.