Ultra-fast charge transfer in organic electronic materials and at hybrid interfaces studied using the core-hole clock technique

Research highlights: → The use of resonant photoemission in its 'core-hole clock' expression for the study of the dynamical charge transfer across hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces and for the intermolecular charge transfer in the bulk of organic thin films is reviewed. → The electronic coupling to the substrate and the efficiency of charge transport across hybrid interfaces is different for individual electronic subsystems of the molecular adsorbate. → The intermolecular charge transfer in the bulk of discotic liquid crystals occurs on the order of a few femtoseconds and is faster than expected from the macroscopic charge transport characteristics of the material. -- Abstract: The focus of this brief review is the use of resonant photoemission in its 'core-hole clock' expression for the study of two important problems relevant for the field of organic electronics: the dynamical charge transfer across hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces, and the intermolecular charge transfer in the bulk of organic thin films. Following an outline of the technique, a discussion of its applicability and a short overview of experimental results obtained thus far, two examples are used to illustrate particular results relevant for the understanding of the charge transport in organic electronic devices. First, for Fe(II)-tetraphenylporphyrin molecules on semi-metallic molybdenum disulfide substrates, the electronic coupling to the substrate and the efficiency of charge transport across the interface different for the individual molecular electronic subsystems is discussed. And second, a discotic liquid crystalline material forming columnar assemblies is used to illustrate ultra-fast intermolecular charge transfer on the order of a few femtoseconds indicating an electronic coupling between the phthalocyanine units stronger than expected from the macroscopic charge transport characteristics of the material.