Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been proven to be an excellent electron-conducting polymer, with the potential for use in inorganic/organic hybrid solid state dye sensitized solar cells. PEDOT is an effective replacement for the iodide electrolyte in the transition from liquid to solid state solar cells. PEDOT:PSS has been widely used, but its poly(styrenesulfonate) co-polymer is insulating and reduces PEDOT's conductivity. The size of the PEDOT:PSS chains inhibits it from penetrating into the porous TiO2 layer, and as a result it makes poor contact with the dye. Through the method of vapor phase polymerization, PEDOT penetrates into the porous TiO2 layer creating an inorganic/organic scaffold with good contact between the dye and the PEDOT. Vapor phase monomers enter the TiO2 layer and utilize oxidants to initiate a carbon-carbon coupling polymerization.Possible oxidants are Iron(III) p-toluene sulfonic acid and Copper(II) chloride. Solar cells produced using vapor phase polymerized PEDOT show lower resistances than traditional PEDOT:PSS solar cells, resulting in higher conductivities. We present results on solar cell efficiencies obtained using vapor phase polymerized PEDOT as a electron conducting layer.

Advantages of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in flexible inorganic/organic hybrid solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

247th National Meeting (2014)

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