An Inorganic/Organic Semiconductor “Sandwich” Structure Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Preparation of ZnO/organic/ZnO “sandwich” semiconductor hybrid structures by molecular beam epitaxy is reported. Overgrowth of the organic layer becomes possible because ZnO epitaxy requires exceptionally low substrate temperatures. The molecule, a spirobifluorene derivative, withstands ZnO overgrowth without degradation of its optical properties. Excitonic coupling as well as optical gain in ZnO/organic/ZnO sandwich hybrid structures are demonstrated.