The interfaces of In2O3, a model for indium-tin-oxide (ITO), with benzene,
thiophene, and benzaldehyde, models for technologically important organic m
olecules, are studied using angle resolved ultraviolet photoemission and wo
rk function measurements. Band alignment diagrams for hypothetical Al/organ
ic/ITO devices have been drawn, using values determined from this work and
previously published studies of these molecules on Al(111). The similarity
between the bonding of benzene and thiophene on Al(111) and In2O3, i.e., la
rgely electrostatic, leads to near identical alignment at both metal and ox
ide interfaces. This indicates that clean Al and ITO will make a very poor
electron/hole injecting pair. We suggest that the apparent efficiency of Al
as an electron injecting contact in real devices is due to the presence of
oxygen at the Al/organic interface. For benzaldehyde the interaction with
In2O3 is largely electrostatic, in contrast to the covalent bonds formed on
Al(111). This leads to very different alignment at the Al and oxide interf
aces, showing the importance of the particular organic-inorganic interactio
n in determining band alignment. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.