Electronic and chemical structure of conjugated polymer surfaces and interfaces: applications in polymer-based light-emitting devices

After a short overview of the interface formation of metals deposited on clean surfaces of conjugated polymers and model molecular solids, some of our latest results on the chemical and electronic structure of the interface between indium-tin oxide (ITO) and adsorbed polymer materials are presented. In particular, we have studied trends in surface properties and polymer light-emitting diode (LED) performances as a function of the cleaning of the ITO substrate before deposition of polymer films. Finally, initial spectroscopic results on polyaniline (emeraldine base) adsorbed on ‘clean’ ITO will be outlined.