pi-Conjugated donor-acceptor small molecule thin-films on gold electrodes for reducing the metal work-function


Azum N., Taib L. A., Al Angari Y. M., Asiri A. M., Denti M., Zhao W., ...More

THIN SOLID FILMS, vol.616, pp.320-327, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 616
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.tsf.2016.08.041
  • Journal Name: THIN SOLID FILMS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.320-327
  • Abdullah Gül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This paper reports the design, facile synthesis and purification of four pi-conjugated donor-acceptor small molecules comprising heteroaromatic units, DA-1-DA-4, for surface and electronic structure modification of gold thin film. These molecules were characterized by H-1/C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Morphologically smooth thin-films (similar to 5 nm) of DA-1-DA-4 were deposited onto Au thin films via thermal evaporation and characterized by atomic force microscopy, theta-2 theta X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The work functions of the small molecule coated Au electrodes are shifted to lower energies by similar to 0.1-03 eV, compared to that of the bare Au film measured as a reference. The vapor-deposition of structurally,simple small molecules developed here shows great promise as a facile approach to reduce gold work function for electron injection/extraction between organic semiconductors and Au contacts in various opto-electronic devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All tights reserved.