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Optimization of Fabrication Process of Stretchable, Transparent PEDOT:PSS Electrodes for Optoelectronic Applications

Dong-Hyeok Kim Ji-Hye Kim¹ Ju-Hee So^2† Hyung-Jun Koo^†

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Seoul National University of Science and Technology , Seoul 01811 , South Korea ¹Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering , Seoul National University of Science and Technology , Seoul 01811 , South Korea ²Material and Component Convergence R&D Department , Korea Institute of Industrial Technology , Ansan 15588 , South Korea

jso@kitech.re.kr, hjkoo@seoultech.ac.kr

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, February 2024, 41(2), 453-459(7), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-024-00051-2

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), a conductive polymer, is one of the candidate

materials for stretchable, transparent electrodes in wearable optoelectronic devices. The treatment of PEDOT:PSS fi lms

with organic solvents, e.g., methanol in this study, and acids improves the sheet conductance of the polymer fi lm. This

study presents a fabrication process to maximize the conductance of the PEDOT:PSS fi lm, by optimizing the methanol

treatment method. Two treatment methods, post-treatment and in-situ treatment, are compared. The in-situ treatment at

the optimal methanol concentration is found to be slightly more eff ective than the post-treatment in reducing the resistance

of the PEDOT:PSS fi lms. Forming multilayers of the PEDOT:PSS fi lm further reduces the sheet resistance. However, the

multilayer structure also decreases the optical transmittance, which is undesirable in optoelectronic applications. As a result,

two layers of the PEDOT:PSS fi lm are selected as an optimal number of layers in terms of conductance and transmittance.

The double-layered PEDOT:PSS fi lm coated on a stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate demonstrates stable

strain-dependent resistance up to 100% strain. Finally, the stretchable PEDOT:PSS electrode fabricated by the optimized

process was used as the transparent electrode for a perovskite solar cell, exhibiting typical J−V characteristics with a power

conversion effi ciency of 1.65%.

Keywords

PEDOT:PSS · Transparent electrode · Stretchable electrode · Solvent treatment · Perovskite solar cell