Real-space visualization of conformation-independent oligothiophene electronic structure

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Benjamen N. Taber - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Dmitry A. Kislitsyn - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Christian F. Gervasi - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Jon M. Mills - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Ariel E. Rosenfield - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Lei Zhang - , University of Massachusetts (Author)
  • Stefan C.B. Mannsfeld - , Chair of Organic Devices (cfaed) (Author)
  • James S. Prell - , University of Oregon (Author)
  • Alejandro L. Briseno - , University of Massachusetts (Author)
  • George V. Nazin - , University of Oregon (Author)

Abstract

We present scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) investigations of the electronic structures of different alkyl-substituted oligothiophenes on the Au(111) surface. STM imaging showed that on Au(111), oligothiophenes adopted distinct straight and bent conformations. By combining STS maps with STM images, we visualize, in real space, particle-in-a-box-like oligothiophene molecular orbitals. We demonstrate that different planar conformers with significant geometrical distortions of oligothiophene backbones surprisingly exhibit very similar electronic structures, indicating a low degree of conformation-induced electronic disorder. The agreement of these results with gas-phase density functional theory calculations implies that the oligothiophene interaction with the Au(111) surface is generally insensitive to molecular conformation.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number194703
JournalJournal of Chemical Physics
Volume144
Issue number19
Publication statusPublished - 17 May 2016
Peer-reviewedYes