Decorating Semiconductor Silver-Tetracyanoquinodimethane Nanowires with Silver Nanoparticles from Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Hybrid semiconducting silver-tetracyanoquinodimethane (AgTCNQ) nanowires decorated with Ag nanoparticles have been synthesized at room temperature in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. Hydroquinone was applied to reduce Ag þ and TCNQ to silver nanoparticles, and TCNQ À , respectively, under ambient conditions. AgTCNQ nanowires were formed via spontaneous electrolysis between Ag metal nanoparticles and TCNQ, and reaction between Ag þ and TCNQ À . Microscopic, spectroscopic, and X-ray characterizations all confirmed the formation of crystalline Ag nanoparticle-AgTCNQ nanowire hybrid structures. The ionic liquid was used as a reaction medium, but also as a stabilizing (or blocking) agent to control the nucleation and growth rate of AgTCNQ wires.

Tetrathiafulvalene–7,7,8,8‐Tetracyanoquinodimethane and Tetrathiafulvalene–2,3,5,6‐Tetrafluoro‐7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane Organic Charge‐Transfer Complexes: Reusable Catalysts for Electron‐Transfer Reactions

“…Charge‐transfer complexes based on TCNQ have also received significant attention, in particular in the areas of field emission and molecular electronics . Recently, our group and others have looked into extending the capability of charge‐transfer‐complex materials into more diverse applications including heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, gas sensing, heavy‐metal‐ion removal, humidity sensing, iodine storage, superhydrophobic surfaces, oil–water separation, and antibacterial fabrics …”