Solvent treatment as an efficient anode modification method to improve device performance of polymer light-emitting diodes

► Treating the PEDOT layer with ethanol improved the luminance efficiency by 83% without sacrificing the operation voltage. ► The performance enhancement is attributed to the reduction in PEDOT work function induced by solvent treatment. ► The reduced PEDOT work function increased the hole injection barrier leading to more balanced charges. ► The decreased PSS domains as well as the continuous PEDOT:PSS pathways reduced the resistivity of the PEDOT:PSS film.