Implication of molecular orientation on charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt–phthalocyanine thin films

Charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt phthalocyanine films deposited along (ATB) and perpendicular (PTB) to the natural twin boundaries of (0 0 1) LaAlO3 substrate have been investigated. The charge carrier mobility of ATB films (∼5 cm2 V−1 s−1) is five orders of magnitude higher compared to that of PTB films (∼7 × 10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1), suggesting that twin boundaries acts like a template for ordering of molecules. The ATB films on exposure to ammonia showed a reversible increase of resistance, with fast response and recovery. In contrast PTB films showed same sensitivity, but exhibits base resistance drift along with sluggish response.

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► CoPc films were deposited on LaAlO3 substrates with natural twin boundaries.
► The resistivity of films along twin boundaries is very low compared to perpendicular.
► These films exhibit high sensitivity and fast response/recovery on exposure to ammonia.