Jäckle, S.; Liebhaber, M.; Niederhausen, J.; Büchele, M.; Félix, R.; Wilks, R.; Baer, M.; Lips, K.; Christiansen, S.: Unveiling the hybrid n-Si/PEDOT:PSS interface. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 8 (2016), p. 8841–8848
10.1021/acsami.6b01596
Open Access Version (externer Anbieter)
Abstract:
We investigated the buried interface between monocrystalline n-type silicon (n-Si) and the highly conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which is successfully applied as a hole selective contact in hybrid solar cells. We show that a post-treatment of the polymer films by immersion in a suitable solvent reduces the layer thickness by removal of excess material. We prove that this post-treatment does not affect the functionality of the hybrid solar cells. Through the thin layer we are probing the chemical structure at the n-Si/PEDOT:PSS interface with synchrotron-based hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). From the HAXPES data we conclude that the Si substrate of a freshly prepared hybrid solar cell is already oxidized immediately after preparation. Moreover, we show that even when storing the sample in inert gas such as, e.g., nitrogen the n-Si/SiOx/PEDOT:PSS interface continues to further oxidize. Thus, without further surface treatment, an unstable Si suboxide will always be present at the hybrid interface.