TITLE: Interface Engineering in Low-Dimensional Materials: From Molecular Functionalization to Reconfigurable Electronics
AUTHOR: Antonio Cassinese - Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
WHEN: Friday, October 16 - 15:30
WHERE: Sala de Seminarios, ICMM-CSIC. Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3 - Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid
ABSTRACT: The seminar will highlight how understanding and controlling interactions at molecular and solid-state interfaces can guide the development of electronic, optoelectronic and sensing devices. It will provide an overview of research activities carried out in Naples, in collaboration with national and international partners, focusing on low-dimensional materials and hybrid interfaces.
MoS₂ and WS₂ provide versatile substrates for the growth of ordered α-sexithiophene nanostructures, enabling organic–inorganic heterostructures with controlled molecular orientation and potential optoelectronic functionality [1,2]. Studies of MoS₂ transistors functionalized with persistent organic radicals will illustrate how molecular chemistry, contact configuration and environment influence charge transport, threshold voltage, hysteresis and photoresponse [3].
The discussion will extend to spontaneous intercalation and substrate decoupling in graphene on sapphire [4], highlighting the role of the substrate and ambient exposure in determining electronic properties. Orbital-symmetry-dependent ultrafast charge transfer at molecular–metal interfaces will provide a complementary perspective on how molecular geometry and electronic structure govern interfacial coupling [5]. Finally, nonvolatile control of a room-temperature ferroelectric-like two-dimensional electron gas in oxide heterostructures will illustrate the use of polarization to define reconfigurable conducting channels [6].
These examples connect molecular organization, interfacial chemistry and polarization as complementary strategies for tailoring charge transport and optical response, with implications for hybrid optoelectronics, sensing and reconfigurable electronic devices.
[1] N. Galizia, et.al , “Highly Ordered T6 Organic Semiconductor Networks on MoS₂ Nanosheets for Optoelectronic Applications,” ACS Applied Nano Materials9, 2812–2820 (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.5c05073.
[2] A. Raza, et al ., “Growth and Characterization of Organic Deposited WS₂ Nanoflakes for Electronic and Sensing Applications,” to be submitted.
[3] N. Galizia, et al . , “Molecular-structure-dependent doping, hysteresis, and photoresponse in MoS₂ transistors functionalized with persistent organic radicals,” to be submitted.
[4] N. Mishra et al., “Spontaneous Intercalation of Graphene on Sapphire,” Small Methods 10, e02396 (2026). DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202502396.
[5] G. Kladnik, A. Cassinese, L. Schio, A. Goldoni, A. Morgante, L. Floreano and D. Cvetko, “Symmetry-Selective Ultrafast Charge Transfer via Cyano End Groups at the PDIF-CN₂–Au(111) Interface,” Nano Letters 26, 6983–6990 (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c01061.
[6] M. Rath et al., “Reconfigurable Ferroelectric-Like Two-Dimensional Electron Gas at Room Temperature,” Advanced Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1002/adma.74190.
