Mo1.33C MXene-assisted PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer for high-performance bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells

Abstract

Here, we report the usage of two-dimensional M X e n e, M o 1. 3 3 C - a s s i s t e d p o l y (3, 4 - e t h y l e n e dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as an efficient hole transport layer (HTL) to construct high-efficiency polymer solar cells. The composite HTLs are prepared by mixing Mo1.33C and PEDOT:PSS aqueous solution. The conventional devices based on Mo1.33C:PEDOT:PSS exhibit an average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.2%, which shows a 13% enhancement compared to the reference devices. According to the results from hole mobilities, charge extraction probabilities, steady-state photoluminescence, and atomic force microscopy, the enhanced PCE can be ascribed to the improved charge transport and extraction properties of the HTL, along with the morphological improvement of the active layer on top. This work clearly demonstrates the feasibility to combine advantages of Mo1.33C MXene and PEDOT:PSS as the promising HTL in organic photovoltaics.