Modification of the Surface Properties of Indium Tin Oxide with Benzylphosphonic Acids: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study

Benzylphosphonic acids with various fluorine substitutions are designed and synthesized. They are used to modify ITO such that the work function can be tuned over a range of 1.2 eV while keeping the surface energy relatively constant. The experimentally measured work function changes are also compared to and agree well with those estimated from DFT calculations.