Charging energy and barrier height of pentacene on Au(111): a local-orbital hybrid-functional density functional theory approach

We analyze the pentacene/Au(111) interface by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations using a new hybrid functional; in our approach we introduce, in a local-orbital formulation of DFT, a hybrid exchange potential, and combine it with a calculation of the molecule charging energy to properly describe the transport energy gap of pentacene on Au(111). Van der Waals forces are taken into account to obtain the adsorption geometry. Interface dipole potentials are also calculated; it is shown that the metal/pentacene energy level alignment is determined by the potential induced by the charge transfer between the metal surface and the organic material, as described by the induced density of interface states model. Our results compare well with the experimental data.