Molecularly controlled metal-semiconductor junctions on silicon surface: a dipole effect

Silicon surface was chemically modified by covalent attachment of homologous organic molecules having different dipole moments. Surface photovoltage measurements clearly confirm that organic molecules have a profound effect on surface band bending of semiconductor. Metal-molecules--silicon junctions were constituted for molecules belonging to ethynylbenzene series using soft mercury contact. These junctions show a systematic change in the electrical charge transport with dipole moment of molecules. Parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height, and density of interface states of various junctions are estimated to understand the role of organic molecules. These studies offer the prospect to develop molecular electronics, which may find potential applications in solar cells and chemical and biological sensors.