Dewi Sri Permata Sari, Ali Aqeel Salim, Nurul Lathii Fatul Chamidah, Erma Surya Yuliana, Ahmad Taufiq, Herlin Pujiarti, Suriati Sufian, Nandang Mufti
The integration of single-walled carbon nanotubes/poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly-styrenesulfonate (SWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS) into silicon-based heterojunction solar cells has gained attention for advancing photovoltaic technologies. However, the presence of PSS in PEDOT as a hole transport layer limits electrical conductivity and photovoltaic efficiency. Hence, ethylene glycol (EG) as a co-solvent was incorporated to optimize the conductivity and morphological properties of PEDOT:PSS and improve the performance of SWCNT-based solar cells. 4 stages were involved: (i) SWCNTs purification and functionalization; (ii) EG doping with PEDOT:PSS; (iii) spin-coating of PEDOT:PSS-EG films; and (iv) spray-coating of SWCNTs onto the PEDOT:PSS-EG layer. The EG effect on the structural, surface morphological, optical properties, and electrical performance of the PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT films was determined and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and current–voltage (I–V) measurements. XRD and SEM analysis revealed a high crystallinity orthorhombic structure and a fiber-like morphology with a reduction in film porosity from 74 to 69.7% as EG concentration increased. UV–Vis absorption spectra showed a redshift and decreased energy bandgap from 3.3 to 2.84 eV. Solar simulator testing demonstrated a substantial enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 19.1 to 23.6% with EG incorporation into PEDOT:PSS/ SWCNT layer. These findings emphasize that EG-doped PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT could be used as an effective interlayer to improve the performance of the next-generation organic–inorganic hybrid photovoltaic devices. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Physics Department, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Wasit, Kut, Iraq; Laser Center & Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia; Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Bandar Seri Iskandar Tronoh, 31750, Malaysia; Center of Advanced Material for Renewable Energy, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
