Localized intermolecular electronic coupling in two-dimensional self-assembled 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide nanoarchitectures

Abstract

Tailoring the structural and electronic properties of perylene diimide derivative films is essential for developing next generation organic photovoltaic devices. Here we show that 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) molecules self-assemble into a new two-dimensional structure after annealing. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveals strong localized inter-molecular electronic coupling at room temperature when molecules are arranged in a side-by-side packing.