Fine tuning work function of indium tin oxide by surface molecular design: Enhanced hole injection in organic electroluminescent devices

Characteristics of electroluminescent (EL) devices were improved dramatically using indium tin oxide (ITO) chemically modified with H-, Cl-, and CF3-terminated benzoyl chlorides. By the use of reactive –COCl groups, ITO surfaces were modified quickly and the work function of the modified ITO was changed widely depending upon the permanent dipole moments introduced in the para- position of benzoyl chloride. We also compared the performance of the EL devices with ITO modified with different binding groups (–SO2Cl, –COCl, and –PO2Cl2) of p-chlorobenzene derivatives. Finally, we examined the correlation between the change in the work function and the performance of the EL devices by the chemical modification and found that the enormous increase in ITO work function up to 0.9 eV is possible using phenylphosphoryl dichloride with a CF3-terminal group in the para-position.