The effect of self-assembled monolayers on polarization-dependent two-photon photoemission and on the angular distribution of the photoelectrons

The effect of a self-assembled organized organic monolayer on the two-photon photoemission from semiconductor substrates was investigated. It has been found that the monolayer affects the relative yield of photoelectrons emitted by p-polarized versus s-polarized light. In addition, the monolayer affects the angular distribution of the ejected electrons. The effect on the photoelectron yield is attributed to the monolayer "smoothing" the electronic potential on the surface by eliminating surface states and dangling bonds. The effect on the angular distribution is attributed to a post-ejection interaction between the photoelectrons and the adsorbed molecules. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.