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

Naved Azum*, Layla Ahmad Taib, Yasser Mohammed Al Angari, Abdullah M. Asiri, Mitchel Denti, Wei Zhao, Hakan Usta, Antonio Facchetti

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reports the design, facile synthesis and purification of four π-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 1H/13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Morphologically smooth thin-films (~ 5 nm) of DA-1–DA-4 were deposited onto Au thin films via thermal evaporation and characterized by atomic force-microscopy, θ–2θ X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The work functions of the small molecule coated Au electrodes are shifted to lower energies by ~ 0.1–0.3 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)320-327
Number of pages8
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume616
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University of Saudi Arabia , under grant no. 80-130-35-HiCi . The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR technical and financial support.

Keywords

  • Conducting electrode
  • Donor-acceptor small molecule
  • Organic thin-film
  • Synthesis and characterization
  • Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy
  • Work-function reduction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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