What Happens at the Interface between TTF and TCNQ Crystals (TTF = Tetrathiafulvalene and TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane)?

The interface between tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) crystals was prepared by treating a TCNQ single crystal surface with TTF powder. Optical measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation of the interface indicated that not only are TTF–TCNQ nanocrystals formed at the interface, but also direct charge injection from TTF powder to the TCNQ single crystal surface may be responsible for the high conductivity of the interface

Fabrication of Conducting Thin Films on the Surfaces of 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane Single-Component and Charge-Transfer Complex Single Crystals: Nucleation, Crystal Growth, Morphology, and Charge Transport

Electrically conducting TTF–TCNQ thin films are fabricated on various molecular crystals containing 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) by exposing a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) vapor under ambient conditions. To systematically investigate the properties of the films, mixed-stack TCNQ charge-transfer (CT) complex crystals with nine kinds of donors have been prepared as the substrates, and the morphology change of the films on the surfaces at the initial stage of the TTF vapor contact has been observed. When the substrate is a TCNQ single-component crystal, randomly oriented TTF–TCNQ nanometer-size needle crystals are grown by the reaction with a TTF vapor. However, when the substrate is a TCNQ CT complex crystal, TTF–TCNQ crystals are grown with alignment of their needle axis along the mixed-stack direction of the substrate. The surface roughness, the size of the needle crystals, and the degree of the dense packing of the needles have been found to systematically depend on the strength of the CT interactions in the substrate, and the sheet resistance also exhibits a systematic change. The resistance drop is rapid and remarkable when the donor of the substrate CT complex is weak. The difference in the morphology and the properties is considered to arise from the difference in the ease of nucleus formation and the rate of crystal growth of the TTF–TCNQ nanocrystals

Fabrication of Conducting Thin Films on the Surfaces of 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane Single-Component and Charge-Transfer Complex Single Crystals: Nucleation, Crystal Growth, Morphology, and Charge Transport

Electrically conducting TTF–TCNQ thin films are fabricated on various molecular crystals containing 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) by exposing a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) vapor under ambient conditions. To systematically investigate the properties of the films, mixed-stack TCNQ charge-transfer (CT) complex crystals with nine kinds of donors have been prepared as the substrates, and the morphology change of the films on the surfaces at the initial stage of the TTF vapor contact has been observed. When the substrate is a TCNQ single-component crystal, randomly oriented TTF–TCNQ nanometer-size needle crystals are grown by the reaction with a TTF vapor. However, when the substrate is a TCNQ CT complex crystal, TTF–TCNQ crystals are grown with alignment of their needle axis along the mixed-stack direction of the substrate. The surface roughness, the size of the needle crystals, and the degree of the dense packing of the needles have been found to systematically depend on the strength of the CT interactions in the substrate, and the sheet resistance also exhibits a systematic change. The resistance drop is rapid and remarkable when the donor of the substrate CT complex is weak. The difference in the morphology and the properties is considered to arise from the difference in the ease of nucleus formation and the rate of crystal growth of the TTF–TCNQ nanocrystals

Charge Conduction Properties at the Contact Interface between (Phthalocyaninato)nickel(II) and Electron Acceptor Single Crystals

Single-component crystals of both (phthalocyaninato)­nickel­(II) (Ni­(<i>Pc</i>)) and 2,5-difluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F₂TCNQ) are typical band insulators. However, the contact interface between them demonstrates metal-like transport properties. Although Ni­(<i>Pc</i>) and F₂TCNQ are an electron donor and an acceptor, respectively, the combination of these two components does not yield any charge transfer (CT) complex crystals. Infrared spectra show that the highly conductive feature originates from charge injection at the contact interface. The thermoelectric power of the mixed powder reveals that the transport at the contact interface is dominated by the holes in the Ni­(<i>Pc</i>) crystal