JRF Awardees present the outcomes of their visit to the TYC at a seminar at UCL.

Schedule

16:00 – 16:05 Welcome and introduction in Ramsay Lecture Theatre, Christopher Ingold Building

16:05 – 16:45

Correlating interfacial electronic and topographical properties of ZnO/MPc heterojunctions

Zinc oxide (ZnO) as a transparent semiconductor oxide and metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) as
planar conjugated molecules are progressively introduced to low-cost small molecular organic
electronic and optoelectronic devices such as sensors and solar cells. Despite their combined
application, a comprehensive understanding of the electronic interaction at their interface is
missing. In this study, we focus on the interface creation between MPcs with ZnO substrate. For
instance, assuming the fact that the difference in the electronic configuration of the central metal
ion of the phthalocyanine should noticeably influence the bonding mechanism and charge
transfer/redistribution characteristics with ZnO, we will consider the severity of this reaction in
hybrid ZnO/MPc structures.
Utilizing in-situ X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS), as well as ex
situ X-ray diffraction pattern, and atomic force microscopy, we will discuss the potential charge
redistribution and transport based on the created interfacial dipoles, work function evolution, and
energy level alignment. Finally, the experimental findings are interpreted alongside ongoing DFT
based modeling of the ZnO/MPc interfaces using CP2K.

Biography

Sakineh Akbari Nia is a PhD student in materials engineering – Physics at the Silesian University
of technology, Poland, where her research contributes to energy materials, particularly for
advanced optoelectronic devices. Her work centers on clarifying and engineering the complex
interfacial properties within inorganic–organic hybrid structures, essential for performance
optimization of OLEDs and solar cells. Building upon her master studies, MEH-PPV-based OLED
fabrication and optimization, she now employs an interdisciplinary approach for cutting-edge
interface optimization. For this purpose, she combines advanced experimental characterization
techniques including spectroscopy (XPS, UPS, and STS) and microscopy (AFM and STM) with
Density Functional Theory computations using CP2K code.

16:50 onwards

Networking, snacks and soft drinks