Scanning electron microscopy investigation of Cu-TCNQ micro/nanostructures synthesized via vapor-induced reaction method

Micro/nanostructures based on the metal-organic complex Cu-TCNQ were successfully synthesized by a novel method: vapor-induced reaction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology on the three different parts of the substrate: the hot reaction area, a transitional reaction area and an induced reaction area. The results show that the morphology of the as-grown structures evolves from microstructures to nanostructures. The formation mechanism of these different structures may be understood from electrochemical principles and the decreasing concentration of TCNQ. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.