Lin, J.-F.J.-F.LinWang, W.-B.W.-B.WangHo, C.-C.C.-C.HoJou, J.-H.J.-H.JouChen, Y.-F.Y.-F.ChenSu, W.-F.W.-F.SuYANG-FANG CHENWEI-FANG SU2018-09-102018-09-102012http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84856009155&partnerID=MN8TOARShttp://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/375170We offer a novel approach to improve the performance of P3HT/TiO 2 hybrid photovoltaic devices by incorporating either hydroxyl- or amino-functionalized silica nanodots (SND-OH or SND-NH 2) into the hole transport layer of the PEDOT:PSS. The SNDs serve as screens between conducting polymer and ionomer PSS to improve the phase separation and charge transport of the PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) was thus improved by 1.45 and 2.61 fold for devices fabricated with PEDOT:PSS containing 1 wt % of SND-OH (SND-OH device) and 1 wt % of SND-NH 2 (SND-NH 2 device), respectively, when compared with the devices fabricated by neat PEDOT:PSS. The increase in PCE arises from an increase in short circuit currents, which are affected by the phase separation of PEDOT:PSS with possessing incorporated SNDs. The low surface potential of hydroxyl-functionalized SNDs (SND-OH) is easily aggregated in the PEDOT:PSS solution and forms large-sized phase separation in the PEDOT:PSS film. The aggregation of SND-OH causes slight decreases in the resistance of PEDOT:PSS thin film from (61 ± 1 to 69 ± 4)× 10 6 Ohm/square and a decrease in the shielding effects of the SNDs. In contrast, the high surface potential of amino-functionalized SNDs are dispersed uniformly in the PEDOT:PSS solution and form morphologies with small-sized domains in the PEDOT:PSS film. As a result, the sheet resistance of PEDOT:PSS thin films is decreased from (61 ± 1 to 46 ± 3) × 10 6 Ohm/square. Therefore, the SND-NH 2 device exhibits greater performance over the SND-OH devices. © 2011 American Chemical Society.[SDGs]SDG7Hole transport layers; Nanodots; PEDOT:PSS; Photovoltaic devices; Photovoltaic performance; Power conversion efficiencies; Shielding effect; Conversion efficiency; Equipment; Hole mobility; Phase separation; Photovoltaic effects; Silica; Surface potential; Thin films; Conducting polymersjournal article10.1021/jp208210s2-s2.0-84856009155