Tunable two-dimensional interfacial coupling in molecular heterostructures

Abstract

© 2017 The Author(s). Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures are of considerable interest for the next generation nanoelectronics because of their unique interlayer coupling and optoelectronic properties. Here, we report a modified Langmuir-Blodgett method to organize two-dimensional molecular charge transfer crystals into arbitrarily and vertically stacked heterostructures, consisting of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF)/C60 and poly(3-dodecylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3DDT)/C60 nanosheets. A strong and anisotropic interfacial coupling between the charge transfer pairs is demonstrated. The van der Waals heterostructures exhibit pressure dependent sensitivity with a high piezoresistance coefficient of -4.4 × 10-6 Pa-1, and conductance and capacitance tunable by external stimuli (ferroelectric field and magnetic field). Density functional theory calculations confirm charge transfer between the n-orbitals of the S atoms in BEDT-TTF of the BEDT-TTF/C60 layer and the πorbitals of C atoms in C60 of the P3DDT/C60 layer contribute to the inter-complex CT. The two-dimensional molecular van der Waals heterostructures with tunable optical-electronic-magnetic coupling properties are promising for flexible electronic applications.