Thin films and interfaces of electroactive organic materials: The surface science approach

We highlight the importance of interfacial properties in determining the pe rformance of devices based on electroactive organic materials. Investigatio ns of the interfaces of benzene with Al(111) and In2O3 are presented as a m odel of interface properties for devices based on complex aromatic molecule s. At both interfaces the binding is shown to be electrostatic. with the re sulting interface dipole determining the band alignment. It is also argued that chemical modification of substrates can be used to tailor both electro nic and structural properties.