Kim, Y.H.Y.H.KimSachse, C.C.SachseMacHala, M.L.M.L.MacHalaMay, C.C.MayMüller-Meskamp, L.L.Müller-MeskampLeo, K.K.Leo2022-03-042022-03-042011https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/22563010.1002/adfm.201002290Highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films as stand-alone electrodes for organic solar cells have been optimized using a solvent post-treatment method. The treated PEDOT:PSS films show enhanced conductivities up to 1418 S cm-1, accompanied by structural and chemical changes. The effect of the solvent treatment on PEDOT:PSS has been investigated in detail and is shown to cause a reduction of insulating PSS in the conductive polymer layer. Using these optimized electrodes, ITO-free, small molecule organic solar cells with a zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc):fullerene C60 bulk heterojunction have been produced on glass and PET substrates. The system was further improved by pre-heating the PEDOT:PSS electrodes, which enhanced the power conversion efficiency to the values obtained for solar cells on ITO electrodes. The results show that optimized PEDOT:PSS with solvent and thermal post-treatment can be a very promising electrode mate rial for highly efficient flexible ITO-free organic solar cells.en621541journal article