Jian Qiang Zhong

Tuning the Dirac point in CVD-grown graphene through solution processed n-type doping with 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazole.

Controlling the Dirac point of graphene is essential for complementary circuits. Here, we describe the use of 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazole (o-MeO-DMBI) as a strong n-type dopant for chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) grown graphene. The Dirac point of graphene can be tuned significantly by spin-coating o-MeO-DMBI solutions on the graphene sheets at different concentrations. The transport of graphene can be changed from p-type to ambipolar and finally n-type. The electron transfer between o-MeO-DMBI and graphene was additionally confirmed by Raman imaging and photoemission spectroscopy (PES) measurements. Finally, we fabricated a complementary inverter via inkjet printing patterning of o-MeO-DMBI solutions on graphene to demonstrate the potential of o-MeO-DMBI n-type doping on graphene for future applications in electrical devices.

Chemical vapor deposition graphene as structural template to control interfacial molecular orientation of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene has been used as an effective structural template to manipulate molecular orientation of organic thin film of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. As revealed by in-situ near-edge x-ray adsorption fine structure measurement, ClAlPc molecules on the CVD graphene modified ITO electrode adopt a well-aligned lying-down configuration with their molecular π-plane nearly parallel to the electrode surface, in contrast to the random orientation of ClAlPc molecules on the bare ITO electrode. This lying-down configuration results in an optimized stacking of the molecular π-plane perpendicular to the electrode surface and hence facilitates efficient charge transport along this direction.

CVD graphene as interfacial layer to engineer the organic donor-acceptor heterojunction interface properties.

We demonstrate the use of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) graphene as an effective indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode surface modifier to engineer the organic donor-acceptor heterojunction interface properties in an inverted organic solar cell device configuration. As revealed by in situ near-edge X-ray adsorption fine structure measurement, the organic donor-acceptor heterojunction, comprising copper-hexadecafluoro-phthalocyanine (F16CuPc) and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), undergoes an obvious orientation transition from a standing configuration (molecular π-plane nearly perpendicular to the substrate surface) on the bare ITO electrode to a less standing configuration with the molecular π-plane stacking adopting a large projection along the direction perpendicular to the electrode surface on the CVD graphene-modified ITO electrode. Such templated less-standing configuration of the organic heterojunction could significantly enhance the efficiency of charge transport along the direction perpendicular to the electrode surface in the planar heterojunction-based devices. Compared with the typical standing organic-organic heterojunction on the bare ITO electrode, our in situ ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy experiments reveal that the heterojunction on the CVD graphene modified ITO electrode possesses better aligned energy levels with respective electrodes, hence facilitating effective charge collection.

Molecular-scale investigation of C60/p-sexiphenyl organic heterojunction interface.

In situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) experiments have been carried out to investigate the interface properties at the C(60)∕p-sexiphenyl (6P) organic-organic heterojunction interface, including the interfacial energy level alignment and the supramolecular packing structures. As revealed by UPS measurements, the vacuum level is almost aligned at the C(60)∕6P interface, suggesting that the interface is dominated by weak intermolecular interactions, such as van der Waals and π-π interactions. In situ LT-STM experiments also indicate the formation of a molecularly sharp C(60)∕6P interface with hexagonally-close-packed C(60) layers nucleated atop 6P layer on graphite.

Single-Molecule Imaging of Activated Nitrogen Adsorption on Individual Manganese Phthalocyanine

An atomic-scale understanding of gas adsorption mechanisms on metal-porphyrins or metal-phthalocyanines is essential for their practical application in biological processes, gas sensing, and catalysis. Intensive research efforts have been devoted to the study of coordinative bonding with relatively active small molecules such as CO, NO, NH3, O2, and H2. However, the binding of single nitrogen atoms has never been addressed, which is both of fundamental interest and indeed essential for revealing the elementary chemical binding mechanism in nitrogen reduction processes. Here, we present a simple model system to investigate, at the single-molecule level, the binding of activated nitrogen species on the single Mn atom contained within the manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) molecule supported on an inert graphite surface. Through the combination of in situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, the active site and the binding configuration between the activated nitrogen species (neutral nitrogen atom) and the Mn center of MnPc are investigated at the atomic scale.

A high work function anode interfacial layer via mild temperature thermal decomposition of a C60F36 thin film on ITO

A high work function anode interfacial layer has been developed via a mild temperature thermal decomposition of fluorinated fullerene (C60F36) on ITO at 120 °C. As revealed by in situ ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements, after the interfacial modification, the ITO electrode work function can be as high as ∼5.62 eV. It also possesses very good air stability even after the exposure to air for more than one day. The thermal annealing induced carbon–fluorine bond breaking was confirmed by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The residual F atoms are chemically bonded onto the ITO surface. Taking advantage of such a high work function anode interfacial layer on ITO, enhanced performance of a chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc)/fullerene (C60) planar heterojunction based organic solar cell was observed. The performance enhancement is attributed to the higher anode WF together with the optimal nanoscale morphology, and hence better hole collection efficiency.

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy investigation of two-dimensional crystallization of C60: pentacence binary system on Ag(111)

Atomic scale investigation of temperature-dependent two-dimensional (2 D) crystallization processes of fullerene-C60 on pentacene-covered Ag(111) surface has been carried out by in situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM) experiments. To evaluate the effect of molecule-substrate interfacial interactions on the 2 D crystallization of C60: pentacene binary system, we also carried out the same self-assembly experiments of C60 on monolayer pentacene covered graphite substrate. It is revealed that temperature-dependent structural transition of various ordered C60 nanoassemblies is strongly influenced by the molecule-Ag(111) interfacial interactions, and further mediated by the weak C60-pentacene intermolecular interactions. In situ ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) has been used to evaluate the nature of the intermolecular interactions between C60 and pentacene films.