Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) has been widely used in different areas, such as organic electroluminescence(LED), organic solar cells, solid capacitor et al, due to its high transparency, heat resistance, low material cost and so on. And many researches about PEDOT:PSS are carried out to study its versatile application.

Organic solar cells OSCs) have attracted extensive attention as the most promising source of green energy for the next generation, owing to their ascendant advantages such as low-cost manufacture, light weight, mechanical flexibility and so on. And PEDOT:PSS as conductive polymer can be used as transparent electrode in OSCs. However, it has some drawbacks, such as relatively low conductivity, hygroscopicity and acidity. So several solvent treatment approaches have been employed to improve the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS for the increased crystallinity of PEDOT and removed insulating PSS. PEDOT:PSS also combines with carbon materials or metal nanomaterials to improve the conductivity. Recently, silver nanowires (AgNWs) have drawn great attention due to the extremely good conductivity/transmittance relationships.

In respect to PEDOT:PSS modified by AgNWs, Zhou et al. (DOI:10.1039/C7TC04673A.) prepared a novel PEDOT:PSS:S-AgNWs composite by in-situ oxidative polymerization of EDOT by PSS and 4-mercaptobenzenesulfonic acid modified silver nanowires (S-AgNWs), in which there are electrostatic interactions between PEDOT and sulfonic groups from PSS and S-AgNWs. Because of PSS partially substituted by S-AgNWs, more crystalline and conductive PEDOT with quinoid conformation was developed compared with commercial Clevios PH1000. And the novel composite shows a lower sheet resistance. The reduced work function and hydrophobic characteristics for PEDOT:PSS:S-AgNWs is beneficial to form ohmic contact with ZnO layer and improve the device stability. The novel PEDOT:PSS:S-AgNWs transparent electrode based device yield a power conversion efficiency of 10.2% and good storage stability.

In order to improve the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS, solvent treatment approaches or combination with metal nanomaterials could be adopted in specific applications.

Edited by Suzhou Yacoo Science Co., Ltd.