Self-Assembled Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)/Graphene Quantum Dot Organogels for Efficient Charge Transport in Photovoltaic Devices

Abstract

We report the self-assembly of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) organogel films incorporating graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Because of the electrostatic interaction between the GQDs and the PEDOT chains, GQD@PEDOT core-shell nanostructures are readily formed. We demonstrate that the GQDs affect the reorientation of PEDOT chains and the formation of interconnected structure of PEDOT-rich domains, improving the charge transport pathway. The power conversion efficiency of the organic photovoltaic device containing the self-assembled organogel as the hole extraction layer (HEL) was 26% higher than the device with pristine PEDOT-PSS as the HEL.