Crystal grain orientation in organic thin films

Organic thin films are built from molecules that can pack in different orientations. The orientation of the grains affects how charge and light move through the film, so controlling it is important for organic electronic devices.

The study uses X ray spectromicroscopy to examine grain orientation in pentacene and perfluoropentacene films grown on surfaces. The comparison between the two materials shows how molecular structure and substrate interactions influence the result.