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P-doped organic semiconductor: Potential replacement for PEDOT:PSS in organic photodetectors

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4961444· OSTI ID:22590515
;  [1];  [2]
  1. IEMN, CNRS, University of Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq 59652 (France)
  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)

In this work, we present an alternative to the use of PEDOT:PSS as hole transport and electron blocking layers in organic photodetectors processed by solution. As Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is known to be sensitive to humidity, oxygen, and UV, removing this layer is essential for lifetime improvements. As a first step to achieving this goal, we need to find an alternative layer that fulfills the same role in order to obtain a working diode with similar or better performance. As a replacement, a layer of poly[(4,8-bis-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b′)dithiophene)-2, 6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-)-2-6-diyl)] (PBDTTT-c) p-doped with the dopant tris-[1-(trifluoroethanoyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)ethane-1,2-dithiolene] (Mo(tfd-COCF{sub 3}){sub 3}) is used. This p-doped layer effectively lowers the hole injection barrier, and the low electron affinity of the polymer prevents the injection of electrons into the active layer. We show similar device performance under light and the improvements of detection performance with the doped layer in comparison with PEDOT:PSS, leading to a detectivity of 1.9 × 10{sup 13} cm (Hz){sup 1/2} (W){sup −1}, competitive with silicon diodes used in imaging applications. Moreover, contrary to PEDOT:PSS, no localization of the p-doped layer is needed, leading to a diode active area defined by the patterned electrodes.

OSTI ID:
22590515
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 109; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English