Energy-Level Control at Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Semiconductor Interfaces

Energy-Level Control at Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Semiconductor Interfaces

Author: Raphael Schlesinger

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-11-21

Total Pages: 223

ISBN-13: 3319466240

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This work investigates the energy-level alignment of hybrid inorganic/organic systems (HIOS) comprising ZnO as the major inorganic semiconductor. In addition to offering essential insights, the thesis demonstrates HIOS energy-level alignment tuning within an unprecedented energy range. (Sub)monolayers of organic molecular donors and acceptors are introduced as an interlayer to modify HIOS interface-energy levels. By studying numerous HIOS with varying properties, the author derives generally valid systematic insights into the fundamental processes at work. In addition to molecular pinning levels, he identifies adsorption-induced band bending and gap-state density of states as playing a crucial role in the interlayer-modified energy-level alignment, thus laying the foundation for rationally controlling HIOS interface electronic properties. The thesis also presents quantitative descriptions of many aspects of the processes, opening the door for innovative HIOS interfaces and for future applications of ZnO in electronic devices.


The (Non-)Local Density of States of Electronic Excitations in Organic Semiconductors

The (Non-)Local Density of States of Electronic Excitations in Organic Semiconductors

Author: Carl. R Poelking

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-10-24

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13: 3319695991

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This book focuses on the microscopic understanding of the function of organic semiconductors. By tracing the link between their morphological structure and electronic properties across multiple scales, it represents an important advance in this direction. Organic semiconductors are materials at the interface between hard and soft matter: they combine structural variability, processibility and mechanical flexibility with the ability to efficiently transport charge and energy. This unique set of properties makes them a promising class of materials for electronic devices, including organic solar cells and light-emitting diodes. Understanding their function at the microscopic scale – the goal of this work – is a prerequisite for the rational design and optimization of the underlying materials. Based on new multiscale simulation protocols, the book studies the complex interplay between molecular architecture, supramolecular organization and electronic structure in order to reveal why some materials perform well – and why others do not. In particular, by examining the long-range effects that interrelate microscopic states and mesoscopic structure in these materials, the book provides qualitative and quantitative insights into e.g. the charge-generation process, which also serve as a basis for new optimization strategies.


Energy Level Alignment and Electron Transport Through Metal/Organic Contacts

Energy Level Alignment and Electron Transport Through Metal/Organic Contacts

Author: Enrique Abad

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-09-15

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 3642309070

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In recent years, ever more electronic devices have started to exploit the advantages of organic semiconductors. The work reported in this thesis focuses on analyzing theoretically the energy level alignment of different metal/organic interfaces, necessary to tailor devices with good performance. Traditional methods based on density functional theory (DFT), are not appropriate for analyzing them because they underestimate the organic energy gap and fail to correctly describe the van der Waals forces. Since the size of these systems prohibits the use of more accurate methods, corrections to those DFT drawbacks are desirable. In this work a combination of a standard DFT calculation with the inclusion of the charging energy (U) of the molecule, calculated from first principles, is presented. Regarding the dispersion forces, incorrect long range interaction is substituted by a van der Waals potential. With these corrections, the C60, benzene, pentacene, TTF and TCNQ/Au(111) interfaces are analyzed, both for single molecules and for a monolayer. The results validate the induced density of interface states model.


Studying the Density of States of Buried Interfaces in Organic Semiconductor Thin Films Using Electronic Sum Frequency Generation

Studying the Density of States of Buried Interfaces in Organic Semiconductor Thin Films Using Electronic Sum Frequency Generation

Author: Aaron Patrick Moon

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13:

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Abstract: New nanostructured semiconductor materials such as nanocrystals and organic semiconductors constitute an attractive platform for optoelectronics design due to the ease of their processability and highly tunable properties. Incorporating these new nanostructured materials into electrical circuits requires forming junctions between them and other layers in a device, yet the change in dielectric properties about these junctions can strongly perturb the electronic structure of the two layers. Specifically, the morphology of the interface between two materials greatly affect their ability to transfer charge and energy through the system, and the method through which this energy travels across a junction is poorly understood. To study these processes, an interfacial technique is required that measures the Density of States (Dos) at buried interfaces in working devices. In this thesis, we adapt an interface-selective optical technique, electronic sum frequency generation (ESFG), to study the dynamics of energy transfer across interfaces in these materials. We begin by developing “direct” detected ESFG to study the electronic states and morphology at the interface of thin films made from known organic semiconductor materials. Using direct ESFG, we examine the differences in the DoS at an interface in an organic thin film relative to its bulk. Through polarization optics, we study morphological changes in the film caused at the junction of the OSC and substrate. To account for interference from multiple ESFG active interfaces present in a thin film, we use a modeling system to separate contributions to the measured ESFG signal from the air exposed and buried interface of interest. We then adapt the direct detected ESFG to “heterodyne” detected ESFG (HD-ESFG), which significantly increases the detection ability of the ESFG spectrometer. Additionally, HD-ESFG allows us to measure the phase of the materials response, which direct ESFG cannot. This phase information can give a better understanding of the morphology at the interface and additional inputs for thin film interference modeling to better deconvolute the signal from the buried interface


Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Heterojunctions

Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Heterojunctions

Author: Giorgio Margaritondo

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 9400930739

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E se non che di cid son vere prove A nd were it not for the true evidence Per piti e piti autori, che sa, ra. nno Of many authors who will be Per i miei versi nominati altrove, Mentioned elsewhere in my rhyme Non presterei alla penna 10. mana I would not lend my hand to the pen Per nota1' cid ch'io vidi, can temenza And describe my observations, for fear ehe non fosse do. altri casso e van 0; That they would be rejected and in vane; Mala lor chiara. e vera. esperienza But these authors' clear and true experience Mi assicura. nel dir, come persone Encourages me to report, since they Degne di fede ad ogni gra. n sentenza. Should always be trusted for their word. [From" Dittamondo", by Fazio degli UbertiJ Heterojunction interfaces, the interfaces between different semiconducting materi als, have been extensively explored for over a quarter of a century. The justifica tion for this effort is clear - these interfaces could become the building blocks of lllany novel solid-state devices. Other interfaces involving semiconductors are al ready widely used in technology, These are, for example, metal-semiconductor and insulator-semiconductor junctions and hOll1ojunctions. In comparison, the present applications of heterojunction int. erfaces are limited, but they could potentially becOlne lnuch lllore ext. ensive in the neal' future. The path towards the widespread use of heterojunctions is obstructed by several obstacles


Introduction to Organic Semiconductor Heterojunctions

Introduction to Organic Semiconductor Heterojunctions

Author: Donghang Yan

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2010-11-15

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 0470825944

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It is well known that most important electronic devices use Schottky junctions and heterojunctions. Unfortunately there is not an advanced book introducing heterojunctions systematically. Introduction to Organic Semiconductor Heterojunctions fills the gap. In this book, the authors provide a comprehensive discussion and systematic introduction on the state-of-the-art technologies as well as application of organic semiconductor heterojunctions. First book to systematically introduce organic heterojunctions Arms readers with theoretical, experimental and applied aspects of organic heterojunctions The Chinese edition of the book is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Distinguished Young Scholar Scientific Book Series Introduction to Organic Semiconductor Heterojunctions is an ideal and valued reference for researchers and graduate students focusing on organic thin film devices like organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Instructors can use the book as a supplementary text for a semiconductor physics or organic electronics course, giving students a better feel for the application of organic thin film devices.


Organic Semiconductor Interfaces with Insulators and Metals

Organic Semiconductor Interfaces with Insulators and Metals

Author: Kathrin Müller

Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag

Published: 2009-10-12

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 3736931182

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The electronic interactions of self-assembled organic semiconductors with metals, metal-oxides and ultrathin insulator surfaces have been investigated by complementary analysis techniques comprising scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Two model systems have been chosen and investigated: The first model system comprises the electronic interactions and the self-assembly of pentacene molecules on the Cu(110) as well as on the oxidized Cu(110) surface. In a second model system the interface of octa-ethyl porphyrins with ultrathin insulator films and metals has been investigated. The adsorption of molecules on insulator surfaces is especially interesting due to the strong reduction of the electronic and chemical interactions between the molecules and the substrate. The investigation of pentacene on the Cu(110) surface revealed a multi-phase behaviour, which is characterized by molecular bending, molecular mobility, different relative orientation of the molecules and different packing densities. Furthermore, the influence of the adsorbate layer on the Shockley surface state of the Cu(110) has been investigated. A complex interplay of different phenomena, like Pauli repulsion, charge transfer, mixing and hybridization of electronic states as well as the polarization of the organic adsorbate in the surface dipolar field, lead to a shift of the surface state to higher binding energies. Additionally, the occupation of the surface state is increased for the adsorption of one monolayer of pentacene. This particular behaviour has not been reported for any other molecular/metal system so far. The adsorption of pentacene on the oxidized Cu(110) surface reveals that the electronic interactions and the surface corrugation determine the self-assembly of the molecular ad-layer. The second project in this thesis comprises the electronic interactions of porphyrin molecules, another representative of molecular semiconductors, with ultrathin insulator layers. The main question here was how the electronic interactions between the molecules and the substrate change with increasing insulator thickness and whether it is possible to electronically decouple the molecules from the substrate for one or two monolayer thin insulator films. A detailed growth study of NaCl on different metal surfaces led to samples, which were homogenously covered with 1 ML of NaCl and thus could be investigated by non-local analysis techniques like UPS and XPS. Low temperature STS and angle-resolved UPS data showed that the CuOEP molecules strongly interact with the Cu(111) and Ag(111) substrate leading to unoccupied electronic states in the band gap of the molecule on Ag(111) and to quenching of the Shockley surfaces state for the adsorption of CuOEP on Cu(111). Further UPS and XPS measurements revealed a strong influence of the chemical environment on the binding energies, as identified by shifted peaks for CuOEP on NaCl compared to CuOEP on the metal surfaces. These peak shifts have been related to strong screening of the photoelectron hole.


Interfaces of Electrical Contacts in Organic Semiconductor Devices

Interfaces of Electrical Contacts in Organic Semiconductor Devices

Author: Korhan Demirkan

Publisher: ProQuest

Published: 2008

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9780549752196

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Progress in organic semiconductor devices relies on better understanding of interfaces as well as material development. The engineering of interfaces that exhibit low resistance, low operating voltage and long-term stability to minimize device degradation is one of the crucial requirements. Photoelectron spectroscopy is a powerful technique to study the metal-semiconductor interfaces, allowing: (i) elucidation of the energy levels of the semiconductor and the contacts that determine Schottky barrier height, (ii) inspection of electrical interactions (such as charge transfer, dipole formation, formation of induced density of states or formation of polaron/bi-polaron states) that effect the energy level alignment, (iii) determination of interfacial chemistry, and (iv) estimation of interface morphology. In this thesis, we have used photoelectron spectroscopy extensively for detailed analysis of the metal organic semiconductor interfaces. In this study, we demonstrate the use of photoelectron spectroscopy for construction of energy level diagrams and display some results related to chemical tailoring of materials for engineering interfaces with lowered Schottky barriers. Following our work on the energy level alignment of poly(p-phenyene vinylene) based organic semiconductors on various substrates [Au, indium tin oxide, Si (with native oxide) and Al (with native oxide)], we tested controlling the energy level alignment by using polar self assembled molecules (SAMs). Photoelectron spectroscopy showed that, by introducing SAMs on the Au surface, we successfully changed the effective work function of Au surface. We found that in this case, the change in the effective work function of the metal surface was not reflected as a shift in the energy levels of the organic semiconductor, as opposed to the results achieved with different substrate materials. To investigate the chemical interactions at the metal/organic interface, we studied the metallization of poly(2-methoxy-5,2'-ethyl-hexyloxy-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV), polystyrene (PS) and ozone treated polystyrene (PS-O3) surfaces by thermal deposition of aluminum. Photoelectron spectroscopy showed the degree of chemical interaction between Al and each polymer, for MEH-PPV, the chemical interactions were mainly through the C-O present in the side chain of the polymer structure. The chemical interaction of Al with polystyrene was less significant, but it showed a dramatic increase after ozone treatment of the polystyrene surface (due to the formation of exposed oxygen sites). Formation of metal oxide and metal-organic compound is detected during the Al metallization of MEH-PPV and ozone-treated PS surfaces. Our results showed that the condensation of Al on polymer surfaces is highly dependent on surface reactivity. Enormous differences were observed for the condensation coefficient of Al on PS and PS-O3 surfaces. For the inert PS surface, results showed that Al atoms poorly wet the polymer surface and form distributed clusters at the surface. Results on reactive polymer surfaces suggest morphology reminiscent of a Stranski- Krastanov-type growth and high contact area. Many studies have shown that the insertion of a thin interlayer of the oxide or fluoride of alkali or alkaline metals between the low work function electrode and the organic semiconductor layers dramatically lowers the onset voltage and increases the efficiency compared to identical devices without the insulating layer. Various modes have been suggested for the mechanism of device performance enhancement. We have investigated the chemical and electrical interaction of (i) LiF with MEH-PPV, (ii) Al with MEH-PPV in the presence of a thin LiF layer at the interface, and finally (iii) the interaction of Al with LiF. AFM and XPS data showed that LiF forms island on the surface. Our data in agreement with various existing models suggested the (i) alteration in the electronic properties under applied bias, (ii) doping of the organic semiconductor, (iii) formation of metal alloy (Au-Li). In addition to the possible electrical modifications at the interface suggested previously, our data also suggest a change in the film growth on LiF modified surfaces.


Physics of Organic Semiconductors

Physics of Organic Semiconductors

Author: Wolfgang Brütting

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-10-02

Total Pages: 660

ISBN-13: 3527654968

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The field of organic electronics has seen a steady growth over the last 15 years. At the same time, our scientific understanding of how to achieve optimum device performance has grown, and this book gives an overview of our present-day knowledge of the physics behind organic semiconductor devices. Based on the very successful first edition, the editors have invited top scientists from the US, Japan, and Europe to include the developments from recent years, covering such fundamental issues as: - growth and characterization of thin films of organic semiconductors, - charge transport and photophysical properties of the materials as well as their electronic structure at interfaces, and - analysis and modeling of devices like organic light-emitting diodes or organic lasers. The result is an overview of the field for both readers with basic knowledge and for an application-oriented audience. It thus bridges the gap between textbook knowledge largely based on crystalline molecular solids and those books focusing more on device applications.