H₂O induced structural modification of pentacene crystal

Water is one of the obstacles for prolonged life-time of organic based field-effect-transistors (OFETs). Here, we show how H₂O molecules adsorb and affect pentacene crystal by using photoelectron spectroscopic methods. Diffusion into the crystal is accompanied with accumulation of H₂O onto the crystal. Valence band, core level, and X-ray absorption spectra show that H₂O molecules physisorb on the pentacene surface via oxygen, resulting in the increase of the hole-injection barrier. The diffused molecules results in the deteriorated crystallinity, and they reflect the weakening inter-molecular interactions of pentacene crystal.