Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films as Hole-injection Layers for Organic Light-emitting Diodes

Biao Chen; Ying Wang; Ming-Liang Xie; Jiang-Bo Liu; Ling-Yu Wang; Wei Chang; Ling Lin; Yu-Long Li; Meng-Ming Sun; Bo-Han Wang; Yu-Guang Ma

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3566-0

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Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films as Hole-injection Layers for Organic Light-emitting Diodes

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-03-26

- Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films as Hole-injection Layers for Organic Light-emitting Diodes
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 4, Pages: 996-1006(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy and Information Polymer Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Author bio：
  
  wangbohan@scut.edu.cn (B.H.W.)
  ygma@scut.edu.cn (Y.G.M.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3566-0
  CLC：
- Received：15 November 2025，
  
  Accepted：08 January 2026，
  
  Online First：11 March 2026，
  
  Published：05 April 2026
- Accepted：
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Chen, B.; Wang, Y.; Xie, M. L.; Liu, J. B.; Wang, L. Y.; Chang, W.; Lin, L.; Li, Y. L.; Sun, M. M.; Wang, B. H.; Ma, Y. G. Electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films as hole-injection layers for organic light-emitting diodes. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 996–1006

Biao Chen, Ying Wang, Ming-Liang Xie, et al. Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films as Hole-injection Layers for Organic Light-emitting Diodes[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 996-1006.
Chen, B.; Wang, Y.; Xie, M. L.; Liu, J. B.; Wang, L. Y.; Chang, W.; Lin, L.; Li, Y. L.; Sun, M. M.; Wang, B. H.; Ma, Y. G. Electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films as hole-injection layers for organic light-emitting diodes. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 996–1006 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3566-0.

Biao Chen, Ying Wang, Ming-Liang Xie, et al. Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films as Hole-injection Layers for Organic Light-emitting Diodes[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 996-1006. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3566-0.

摘要

Electropolymerized PEDOT:PSS hole-injection layers are realized

via

colloid-regulated micellar electropolymerization

enabling smooth morphology and tunable work function. Integrated into electrodeposited electrodeposited organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)

they reduce turn-on voltage and deliver high efficiency (EQE=7.4%) with low roll-off

offering a spin-coating-free route for high-resolution electrodeposited displays.

Abstract

Electrodeposited organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology requires a spin-coating-free hole-injection layer that simultaneously provides smooth surface morphology

stable energy levels

and compatibility with high-resolution pixel architectures. In this study

electropolymerization of 3

4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS

–

) surfactant-solubilized colloidal media is shown to afford poly(3

4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films with robust surface uniformity and stable energy levels suitable for application as hole-injection layers in OLEDs. Systematic investigation reveals that the hole-injection properties of these films are governed primarily by the colloidal chemistry of EDOT/PSS

–

surfactant-solubilized systems

rather than by conventional electrochemical parameters. This colloidal regulation modulates the film work function over a practically useful range. Incorporation of optimized films into OLEDs leads to enhanced hole injection and improved device performance

with external quantum efficiency increasing from 2.2% to 7.4% and minimal roll-off. Overall

this work demonstrates

a feasible example of realizing spin-coating-free hole-injection layers

offering a potential direction for the development of electrodeposited injection layers for OLEDs.

关键词

Keywords

references

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