Structure of a pentacene monolayer deposited on SiO2: Role of trapped interfacial water

In situ synchrotron x-ray reflectivity is used to probe the early stages of pentacene growth in real time, under conditions relevant to the fabrication of organic thin film transistors. The results reveal that there is an interfacial water layer initially present on the SiO2 substrate and that this water layer is still present at the interface after the deposition of a pentacene thin film. The thickness of the trapped interfacial water layer does not significantly change subsequent to film deposition, even after exposure to atmospheric pressure or during vacuum annealing at 70°C. However, a water layer is observed to form on the free surface of pentacene after sufficient exposure to water vapor, and the thickness of this layer can be reduced by subsequent vacuum annealing. These observations are correlated with organic thin film transistor mobilities measured at atmospheric pressure versus under vacuum.