Controlling the electronic and physical coupling on dielectric thin films

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, vol. 11, pp. 1492–1503

Abstract

Ultrathin dielectric/insulating films on metals are often used as decoupling layers to allow for the study of the electronic properties of adsorbed molecules without electronic interference from the underlying metal substrate. However, the presence of such decoupling layers may effectively change the electron donating properties of the substrate, for example, by lowering its work function and thus enhancing the charging of the molecular adsorbate layer through electron tunneling. Here, an experimental study of the charging of para-sexiphenyl (6P) on ultrathin MgO(100) films supported on Ag(100) is reported. By deliberately changing the work function of the MgO(100)/Ag(100) system, it is shown that the charge transfer (electronic coupling) into the 6P molecules can be controlled, and 6P monolayers with uncharged molecules (Schottky–Mott regime) and charged and uncharged molecules (Fermi level pinning regime) can be obtained. Furthermore, it was found that charge transfer and temperature strongly influence the orientation, conformation, and wetting behavior (physical coupling) of the 6P layers on the MgO(100) thin films.

Authors 13

1. Philipp Hurdax

   University of Graz · Nawi Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

2. Michael Hollerer

   University of Graz · Nawi Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

3. Larissa Egger

   University of Graz · Nawi Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

4. Georg Koller

   University of Graz · Nawi Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

   Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

5. Xiaosheng Yang Aachen Experimentalphysik IV A

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany and

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

6. Anja Haags Aachen Experimentalphysik IV A

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany and

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

7. Serguei Soubatch

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

8. Frank Stefan Tautz Aachen Experimentalphysik IV A

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   Experimentalphysik IV A, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany and

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

   Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany,

9. M. Richter

   Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

   Affiliation as printed

   Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), 10587 Berlin, Germany

10. Alexander Gottwald

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), 10587 Berlin, Germany

11. Peter Puschnig

    University of Graz · Nawi Graz

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

12. Martin Sterrer

    University of Graz · Nawi Graz

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,

13. Michael G. Ramsey corresponding

    University of Graz · Nawi Graz

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

    Institute of Physics, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria,