Nanoparticles of tetrathiafulvalene chloride derivatives grown in the presence of amphiphilic molecules

Abstract

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACTKeywor ds: Nanopartlcles Tetrathiafulvalene salts Mlxed-valence conductors Electrocristallization technique Growth-controillng agentThe work described in this paper is directed towards the electrosynthesis of TTFClo, 77 as spherical nanoparticles by using amphiphilic molecules, behaving as growth<ontrolling agents. The morphology and the sire dis tribution of the particles were analyred using transmission electron microscopy and the resulting powders were characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy al ong with X-ray diffraction. ln the presence of dodecyla mine, electron micrographs evidenced spherical and relatively well-dispersed nanoparticles exhibiting a mean diameter of about 10 nm. However, in the presence of N-octylfurfwlimine, a mixture of nanoparticles and sticks were formed. The best results in terms of smallness of particles sire and narrowness size distribution were obtained in the presenoe of 1-octanamine, N-(2-thienylmethylene). Spherical nanoparticles exhibiting si7.eS in the 4-12 nm range with an average size of about 8 nm were observed. The nanoparticles powder exhibited a room temperature conductivity of about 0.01 S.cm 1 •