Micro-rods of oxidized pentacene obtained by thermal annealing in air of pentacene thin films

Abstract

The influence of thermal annealing (in air and nitrogen at ambient pressure) on optical properties of pentacene films, well-known material widely used in organic electronic devices, was studied. Pentacene films, whose thickness varies an order of magnitude (30 – 300 nm) depending on the position on the substrate, were polycrystalline at all thicknesses. Raman and UV-vis absorption spectra depend on the position on film implies changes of the film structure with the thickness. These spectra are not largely affected by annealing if it is not performed in air at temperatures higher than 100°C. Prolonged annealing in air, at temperatures higher than 100°C, leads to formation of nano- and micro-scale rod-shaped structures on film surface. Based on scanning electron microscopy measurements, it is supposed that these structures are crystalline. Their UV-vis absorbance indicates that they are composed of more than one species of oxidized pentacene molecules, including 6,13-pentacenequinone. Further study is necessary to precisely determine composition and structure of micro-rods, as well as the mechanism of their formation.