Bipolar redox behaviour, field-effect mobility and transistor switching of the low-molecular azo glass AZOPD.

We present electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical data for the bipolar azo compound N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis[4-(phenylazo)phenyl]-4,4'diaminobiphenyl (AZOPD) demonstrating reversible bipolar redox behaviour with a bandgap of 2.1 eV. The reduced species formed upon two-electron transfer can be described as bis(radical anion) as was confirmed by comparison with a reference compound with only one azo chromophore. Hole and electron transport behaviour in amorphous films was demonstrated by the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors using gold and magnesium contacts, respectively. The transistors are sensitive to light due to E-Z photoisomerization.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for detection of the different Si-O bonding states of silicon.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to detect the bonding between a silica particle surface and attached silanes. In addition to the commonly recorded Si 2p spectrum, the Si 1 s level is also accessible when monochromatic Ag Lalpha X-rays are applied. Furthermore, the spectrum of the Si 1 s level shows a fine structure. After spectrum deconvolution, we assigned the fitted spectral peaks to Si-C bonds of the silanes and to the Si-O bonds of the silica network. The recorded Si 1 s spectra were deconvoluted into peaks originating from Si-C bonds and the Si-O-Si silica network. To check the results of spectrum deconvolution, several differently functionalized silanes containing stoichiometric amounts of heteroatoms were applied for silica surface modification. We conclude that spectra deconvolution of the Si 1 s signal is an appropriate means for quantification of surface attached silane molecules.