LUMI-2
Applying a thin, self-organized layer of molecules to a gold surface can change its energy properties, specifically the Fermi level, which is related to how easily electrons move. When done carefully, this adjustment can make the gold's energy levels match those of an organic semiconductor, improving how efficiently the two materials interact.
This can significantly reduce electrical resistance at the connection point, leading to much lower power requirements and dramatically boosting performance in devices like organic solar cells, OLEDs, and organic transistors—sometimes by a factor of a million.
In our study, we explored how this energy shift could be controlled using an external stimulus. We embedded light-sensitive molecules in the layer, allowing us to change and reverse the energy properties of the surface using light. We then analyzed how the structure of these molecules influenced the gold’s energy levels using spectroscopy.
