title: Photoinduced work function changes by isomerization of a densely packed azobenzene-based SAM on Au: a joint experimental and theoretical study.
abstract: Responsive monolayers are key building blocks for future applications in organic and molecular electronics in particular because they hold potential for tuning the physico-chemical properties of interfaces, including their energetics. Here we study a photochromic SAM based on a conjugated azobenzene derivative and its influence on the gold work function (Φ(Au)) when chemisorbed on its surface. In particular we show that the Φ(Au) can be modulated with external stimuli by controlling the azobenzene trans/cis isomerization process. This phenomenon is characterized experimentally by four different techniques, kelvin probe, kelvin probe force microscopy, electroabsorption spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The use of different techniques implies exposing the SAM to different measurement conditions and different preparation methods, which, remarkably, do not alter the observed work function change (Φ(trans)-Φ(cis)). Theoretical calculations provided a complementary insight crucial to attain a deeper knowledge on the origin of the work function photo-modulation.
authors.affiliation: ISIS-CNRS 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crivillers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liscio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Stasio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Dyck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cornil
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lazzerini
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orgiu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reinders
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahlman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornil
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacialli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samorì
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006046:Gold; C009850:azobenzene