Evidence of hybridization states at the donor/acceptor interface: case of m-MTDATA/PPT

Abstract

We performed a spectroscopic study on the m-MTDATA (donor) and PPT (acceptor) molecular vertical heterostructure. The electronic properties of the donor/acceptor interface have been comprehensively characterized by synchrotron radiation-based photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). The spectroscopic results reveal the existence of new hybridization states which fill in the energy gap, likely attributed to the interaction between the donor and the acceptor molecules. Such hybridized state can improve the hole transport property of the donor molecule, providing essential fundamental knowledge of the charge-transfer mechanism of the organic electronic devices based on donor-acceptor molecules and thus has a positive impact on the device efficiency.