Hybrid MoS2/PEDOT:PSS transporting layers for interface engineering of nanoplatelet-based light-emitting diodes

Abstract

Colloidal semiconductor nanoplatelets (NPLs) are a subgroup of quantum confined materials that have recently emerged as promising active materials for solution processed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) thanks to their peculiar structural and electronic properties as well as their reduced dimensionality. Nowadays, the conventional structure for NPL-based LEDs makes use of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as a hole transporting layer (HTL). This is a well-known conjugated conductive polymer because it leads to high LED efficiency, though it has limited stability in air due to its intrinsic acidity and hygroscopicity. Here, we develop a nanocomposite aqueous ink, obtained by blending commercial PEDOT:PSS with water-based, stable and highly concentrated molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets, obtained via liquid phase exfoliation (LPE), which is suitable as a HTL for solution processed NPL-based LEDs. We demonstrate that the MoS₂ additive effectively works as a performance booster in unpackaged devices, thereby prolonging the lifetime up to 1000 hours under ambient conditions. Moreover, the addition of MoS₂ induces a modification of the anode interface properties, including a change in the work function and a significant enhancement of the permittivity of the HTL.