Synergistic Graphene and PEDOT:PSS Layers on Silicon for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability in Schottky Junction Solar Cells
Abstract
While graphene/n-type silicon (Gr/n-Si) and PEDOT:PSS/n-Si solar cells offer a cost-effective alternative to conventional photovoltaics, achieving simultaneous high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term environmental stability remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report the synergistic enhancement of both performance and stability in a planar trilayer PEDOT:PSS/Gr/n-Si Schottky junction architecture. By systematically benchmarking this hybrid device against pristine Gr/n-Si and PEDOT:PSS/n-Si reference cells fabricated on untextured substrates, we isolate the fundamental optoelectronic and barrier functions of the carbon lattice. Comprehensive analyses reveal that the PEDOT:PSS layer simultaneously functions as an anti-reflection coating, a moderate p-type dopant for the underlying graphene, and a conductivity enhancer, collectively optimizing interfacial charge transport. Consequently, the trilayer device achieves a PCE of 8.52%, markedly outperforming the pristine Gr/n-Si reference cell (4.56%). Crucially, the atomic impermeability of the graphene sheet serves as a robust environmental barrier. While bare PEDOT:PSS/n-Si junctions retained only ~29% of their initial efficiency after 75 days of ambient exposure, graphene shields the active junction from moisture-induced degradation of the hygroscopic PEDOT:PSS overlayer. This enables the trilayer device to retain approximately 90% of its initial efficiency over the same 75-day period. The complementary roles of graphene as both a highly crystalline charge transport interface and an impermeable protective barrier establish a highly effective strategy for engineering high-efficiency, environmentally stable hybrid photovoltaics.
Related
- Photonic Crystal Integrated Graphene-Silicon Schottky Diodes for Resonant Infrared Photodetection
- High-Efficiency Graphene Oxide Moiré Lenses Enabled by Cyclic Self-Assembly and Laser Nanoprinting
- A direct-coupling MOEMS optical switch with muA direct-coupling MOEMS optical switch with multilayer AR coating for enhanced transmission efficiencyltilayer AR coating for enhanced transmission efficiency
- Enhanced mid-infrared evanescent wave sensing via synergistic multi-tapered fiber geometry and optimized PDA coating
- Andreev-Enhanced Conductance in a Bilayer Graphene Quantum Point Contact
BibTeX
@misc{nakajo2026synergistic,
title = {{Synergistic Graphene and PEDOT:PSS Layers on Silicon for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability in Schottky Junction Solar Cells}},
author = {Kentaro Nakajo and Hojun Im and Keiichiro Nishimura and Masahiro Teraoka and Masaya Kikuchi},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.21563},
eprint = {2610.21563},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.21563},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Synergistic Graphene and PEDOT:PSS Layers on Silicon for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability in Schottky Junction Solar Cells
AU - Kentaro Nakajo
AU - Hojun Im
AU - Keiichiro Nishimura
AU - Masahiro Teraoka
AU - Masaya Kikuchi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.21563
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.21563
AB - While graphene/n-type silicon (Gr/n-Si) and PEDOT:PSS/n-Si solar cells offer a cost-effective alternative to conventional photovoltaics, achieving simultaneous high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term environmental stability remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report the synergistic enhancement of both performance and stability in a planar trilayer PEDOT:PSS/Gr/n-Si Schottky junction architecture. By systematically benchmarking this hybrid device against pristine Gr/n-Si and PEDOT:PSS/n-Si reference cells fabricated on untextured substrates, we isolate the fundamental optoelectronic and barrier functions of the carbon lattice. Comprehensive analyses reveal that the PEDOT:PSS layer simultaneously functions as an anti-reflection coating, a moderate p-type dopant for the underlying graphene, and a conductivity enhancer, collectively optimizing interfacial charge transport. Consequently, the trilayer device achieves a PCE of 8.52%, markedly outperforming the pristine Gr/n-Si reference cell (4.56%). Crucially, the atomic impermeability of the graphene sheet serves as a robust environmental barrier. While bare PEDOT:PSS/n-Si junctions retained only ~29% of their initial efficiency after 75 days of ambient exposure, graphene shields the active junction from moisture-induced degradation of the hygroscopic PEDOT:PSS overlayer. This enables the trilayer device to retain approximately 90% of its initial efficiency over the same 75-day period. The complementary roles of graphene as both a highly crystalline charge transport interface and an impermeable protective barrier establish a highly effective strategy for engineering high-efficiency, environmentally stable hybrid photovoltaics.
ER -