The role of charge transfer at reduced graphene oxide/organic semiconductor interface on the charge transport properties

The effect of 1-pyrenesulfonicacid sodium salt (1-PSA), tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and tetrafluoro-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) on charge transport properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is examined by measuring the transfer characteristics of field-effect transistors and co-planar time-of-flight photocurrent technique. Evidence of p-type doping and a reduction of mobility of electrons in RGO upon deposition of these materials is observed. Time-resolved photocurrent measurements show a reduction in electron mobility even at submonolayer coverage of these materials. The variation of transit time with different coverages reveals that electron mobility decreases with increasing the surface coverage of 1-PSA, TCNE and F4-TCNQ to a certain extent, while at higher coverage the electron mobility is slightly recovered. All three molecules show the same trend in charge carrier mobility variation with coverage, but with different magnitude. Among all three molecules, 1-PSA acts as weak electron acceptor compared to TCNE and F4-TCNQ. The additional fluorine moieties in F4-TCNQ provides excellent electron withdrawing capability compared to TCNE. The experimental results are consistent with the density functional theory calculations.