Shitan Wang

Energy Level Evolution and Oxygen Exposure of Fullerene/Black Phosphorus Interface

The heteroepitaxial growth of fullerene (C60) on single-crystal black phosphorus (BP) has been studied using low-energy electron diffraction, X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory simulation. The occupied orbital features from C60 observed in the photoelectron spectra for C60/BP interface are slightly broadened at higher coverages of C60 and exhibit no direct evidence of hybridization, demonstrating that the C60/BP interaction is physisorption. Oxygen exposure of interface leads to obvious oxidation of BP in which C60 bridges the large electron-transfer barrier from BP to oxygen and plays an important role for the production of O2- and oxidation of BP. Our findings suggest that C60 does not form an ideal protection layer as the other n-type semiconductors. With the assistance of density functional theory calculations, the oxidized phosphorus at the interface prevents further charge transfer from BP to C60.

Electronic Structures and Nanofilm Growth of 2,7-Dioctyl[1]Benzothieno[3,2-b]Benzothiophene on Black Phosphorus

The interfacial electronic structure and morphology of nanofilm of 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on black phosphorus (BP) was investigated with photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The heterojunction of C8-BTBT/BP is a straddling one with a hole injection barrier of 1.41 eV and electron injection barrier of 2.43 eV from BP to C8-BTBT. There is a 0.18 eV interface dipole pointing from BP to C8-BTBT, which means a relative weak interaction of substrate BP and the C8-BTBT molecules. Volmer-Weber growth mode of C8-BTBT nanofilm on BP was confirmed and the C8-BTBT molecules adopt standing up configuration.

Interfacial Electronic Structures of Photodetectors Based on C8BTBT/Perovskite

Comprehensive measurements of ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy are adopted to investigate the corelevance of energy level alignment, molecular orientation, and film growth of Au/C8BTBT/perovskite interfaces. A small energy offset of valence band maximum of 0.06 eV between perovskite and C8BTBT makes hole transportation feasible. About 0.65 eV upward shift of energy levels is observed with the deposition of the Au film on C8BTBT, which enhances hole transportation to the Au electrode. The observations from the interface analysis are supported by a prototype photodetector of Au (80 nm)/C8BTBT (20 nm)/perovskite (100 nm) that exhibits excellent performances whose responsivity can reach up to 2.65 A W-1, 4 times higher than the best CH3NH3PbI3 photodetectors.

Electronic structures at the interface between CuPc and black phosphorus

The electronic structure at the organic-inorganic semiconductor interface of π-conjugated copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) on a black phosphorus (BP) crystal surface is studied with photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. From the photoemission spectra, we observe a shift of about 0.7 eV for the highest occupied molecular orbital, which originates from the transition of phase in the organic molecular thin film (from the interface phase to the bulk phase). On the other hand, we find 0.2 eV band bending at the CuPc/BP interface while the formation of an interface dipole is very small. According to our photoemission spectrum and theoretical simulation, we also define that the interaction between CuPc and BP is physisorption via van der Waals forces, rather than chemisorption. Our results provide a fundamental understanding of CuPc/BP interfacial interactions that could be important for future two-dimensional organic/inorganic heterostructure devices.