Enhanced performance in inverted polymer solar cells via solution process: Morphology controlling of PEDOT:PSS as anode buffer layer by adding surfactants

•Inverted PSCs are fabricated by adding amphiphilic surfactant to PEDOT:PSS anode buffer layer by a solution process.•Homogeneous film can be formed by adjusting the wettability of a hydrophobic P3HT:PCBM film.•With increasing RS and decreasing RSH, the calculated power conversion efficiency was 4.0%.•In addition, the air stability of the fabricated device is improved.

Inverted polymer solar cells were fabricated by adding the amphiphilic surfactant ‘Surfynol 104 series’ to Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a anode buffer layer by solution process. With the introduction of Surfynol 104 series-added PEDOT:PSS, it was able to form a homogeneous film by adjusting the wettability of a hydrophobic poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) film. With decrease in series resistance (RS) and increase in shunt resistance (RSH), as a result, the short circuit current density (JSC), open circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF) of the optimized device were 10.2 mA/cm2, 0.63 V and 61.3%, respectively, calculated the power conversion efficiency (PCE) was 4.0%. In addition, the air stability of the fabricated device was improved.

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