Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Efficient Hole Transport Layers in Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes

Abstract

Perovskite-based optoelectronic devices have been rapidly developing in the past 5 years. Since the first report the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) has increased rapidly through the control of morphology and structure from 0.1% to more than 11%. Here, we report the use of various conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) as the hole injection layer in PeLEDs. In particular, we find that poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-potassium butanylsulfonate)-4H-cyclopenta-[2,1-b;3,4-b′]-dithiophene)] (PCPDT-K) transfers holes effectively, blocks electron transport from the perovskite to the underlying ITO layer and reduces luminescence quenching at the perovskite/PCPDT-K interface. Our optimized PeLEDs with PCPDT-K show enhanced EQE by a factors of approximately 2 compared to control PeLEDs with PEDOT:PSS, reaching EQE values of 1.5%, and exhibit improved device stability.