Single electron transfer-driven multi-dimensional signal read-out function of TCNQ as an ``off-the-shelf'' detector for cyanide

Herein we report the first applications of TCNQ as a rapid and highly sensitive off-the-shelf cyanide detector. As a proof-of-concept, we have applied a kinetically selective single-electron transfer (SET) from cyanide to deep-lying LUMO orbitals of TCNQ to generate a persistently stable radical anion (TCNQ(center dot-)), under ambient condition. In contrast to the known cyanide sensors that operate with limited signal outputs, TCNQ(center dot-) offers a unique multiple signaling platform. The signal readability is facilitated through multichannel absorption in the UV-vis-NIR region and scattering-based spectroscopic methods like Raman spectroscopy and hyper Rayleigh scattering techniques. Particularly notable is the application of the intense 840 nm NIR absorption band to detect cyanide. This can be useful for avoiding background interference in the UV-vis region predominant in biological samples. We also demonstrate the fabrication of a practical electronic device with TCNQ as a detector. The device generates multiorder enhancement in current with cyanide because of the formation of the conductive TCNQ(center dot-).

TCNQ脂类衍生物及其铜复合物的合成与红外光谱研究

首次合成了7，7，8，8-四氰基对苯醌二甲烷的脂类衍生物：TCNQ（C2H4COOR）2（R=CH3，C2H5，C3H7）及其铜电子转移复合物。通过元素分析确定这些化合物的组成，对这些化合成物在4000～400cm^-1范围内的主要红外光谱吸收峰进行了归属，并讨论了取代基对TCNQ类衍生物红外光谱的影响及其规律。

TCNQ电荷转移配合物薄膜的制备和表征

TCNQ电荷转移配合物作为一种新型有机材料具有很多特殊的物理、化学性质，由于它在材料研究方面的特殊贡献而成为研究热点。本论文在此领域的主要研究内容如下： 1. C18TCNQ和TMB电荷转移配合物LB膜的制备和表征 利用LB技术制备了TMB•C18TCNQ LB膜，与LB-Doping法相比省略了电子给体的液相掺杂步骤，简单、易行。研究结果表明，与TMB•C18TCNQ LB-Doping膜比较，LB膜的结构和表面形貌都发生了很大变化，LB膜中TMB和C18TCNQ的环面分别垂直于基底表面，脂肪烃链有向垂直于基底表面方向变化的趋势，5层LB膜的表面形貌是由许多堆积在一起的六边形片状微晶组成。所以，通过选择制备方法获得具有不同结构的配合物薄膜是可能的。 2. TMB•TCNQ和硬脂酸混合LB膜的制备和表征 利用LB技术组装了TMB•TCNQ和硬脂酸的混合LB膜。研究发现：本身没有两亲性的TMB•TCNQ可以通过硬脂酸的夹带作用转移到基底上。混合LB膜中硬脂酸与TMB•TCNQ是物理混合，很容易被除去，而且，可以根据实际应用需要来决定混合LB膜中硬脂酸的比例。 3. TMB•TCNQ和硬脂酸混合LB膜的热稳定性研究 利用变温红外光谱研究TMB•TCNQ和硬脂酸的混合LB膜的热稳定性。结果显示，混合LB膜中硬脂酸相变发生70-72 oC，TMB•TCNQ在142-144 oC发生反掺杂（分解）。 4. TCNQ和TMB电荷转移配合物自组装膜的制备和表征 利用layer-by-layer法制备了TMB•TCNQ自组装膜。结果表明，通过三氯锗丙酸的中介作用成功地将TMB和TCNQ组装到基底上并形成电荷转移配合物，电荷转移度约为0.48。 5. 利用红外光谱研究硬脂酸镉LB膜的亚晶胞堆积类型 利用红外光谱研究了沉积在CaF2基底上的1，3，5，7-层硬脂酸镉（CdSt）LB膜的亚晶胞堆积形式，以及交替沉积LB膜中氘代硬脂酸镉（d-CdSt）LB膜对1，2，3-层硬脂酸镉LB膜的亚晶胞堆积的影响。结果表明：1-层CdSt LB膜的亚晶胞是六方堆积，而厚度超过3层的CdSt LB膜的亚晶胞是正交堆积。只有相同种类的CdSt LB膜层与层之间的相互作用才会影响碳氢长链的堆积形式，而不同种类的CdSt LB膜和d-CdSt LB膜之间的相互作用不会影响碳氢长链的堆积形式，不论这种作用是亲水头基之间的还是疏水长链之间的。 6. 近红外光谱分辨率对定量分析的影响 利用近红外光谱分析方法建立了多组分混合物中对乙酰氨基苯酚和乙水杨胺的定量分析模型。研究发现，光谱分辨率对定量分析模型有重要影响，针对具体样品的特定组分，需要选择合适的光谱分辨率，进而获得最佳的定量分析结果。

Study on alternating LB films of charge-transfer complex of octadecyl-TCNQ and copper phthalocyanine derivative

Infrared spectra of alternating LB films of octadecyl-TCNQ/CuPc are studied. Charge-transfer complexes are formed in LB films and conductance increases about three orders than that of pure CuPc LB films.

Electrochemical behaviour of TCNQ on platinum supported BLMs

The electrochemical behaviour of TCNQ modified S-BLM has been investigated through capacitor measurement and cyclic voltammetry (CV) which shows the surface wave behaviour of the TCNQ redox form. The voltammetry CV has shown different pairs peak at different scan rates and a possible explanation is provided.

等离子体聚合膜的电学性质研究——Ⅰ.TCNQ聚合膜的结构和电学性质

本文采用内部电极、电容耦合式钟罩型射频等离子体聚合装置,首次进行了四氰代对二次甲基苯醌(TCNQ)的等离子体聚合,得到了电导率为10~(-8)～10~(-6)Scm~(-1)的聚合物半导体薄膜。由这些聚合物薄膜制备的Al/聚合膜/ITO(铟锡氧化物透明电极)夹层元件显示出整流特性和光生伏打效应。这种聚合物薄膜还具有光电导性质。红外光谱(IR)、紫外光谱(UV)的研究结果表明,优良的半导体特性归因于聚合膜中存在有较大范围的π电子共轭结构。

Kinetics of the reaction of alkylamines with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in organic solvents

The following sequence of substitution reactions was studied spectrophotometrically in organic solvents: RNH2 + TCNQ →-HCN 7-substituted TCNQ →-HCN +RNH2 7.7-disubstituted TCNQ where R = butyl, octyl, dodecyl, and hexadecyl. The production of 7-(alkylamino)-7,7,8-tricyanoquinodimethanes proceeds via the formation of the anion radical of TCNQ (TCNQ-·) whose rate of appearance was found to be a function of the chain length of R, reaching a maximum for octylamine. The formation of TCNQ-· was sensitive to the solvent polarity and electron-donor power and was associated with a small enthalpy and a highly negative entropy of activation. Above a certain [C8H17NH2] the rate of disappearance of TCNQ-· was independent of the amine concentration, and the reaction had a much higher enthalpy and entropy of activation. The occurrence of tautomerism precluded an investigation of the conversion of 7-(octylamino)-7,8,8-tricyanoquinodimethane into 7,7-bis(octylamino)-8,8-dicyanoquinodimethane. A study of the reaction of octylamine with 7-morpholino-7,8,8-tricyanoquinodimethane (which does not exist in tautomeric forms) showed that the second substitution step proceeds with the same mechanism as the first one. The only difference between the two compounds (TCNQ and its monosubstituted morpholino derivative) is one of reactivity. © 1985 American Chemical Society.

Galvanic Replacement of Semiconductor Phase I CuTCNQ Microrods with KAuBr4 to Fabricate CuTCNQ/Au Nanocomposites with Photocatalytic Properties

In this study, the reaction of semiconductor microrods of phase I copper 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (CuTCNQ) with KAuBr4 in acetonitrile is reported. It was found that the reaction is redox in nature and proceeds via a galvanic replacement mechanism in which the surface of CuTCNQ is replaced with metallic gold nanoparticles. Given the slight solubility of CuTCNQ in acetonitrile, two competing reactions, namely CuTCNQ dissolution and the redox reaction with KAuBr4, were found to operate in parallel. An increase in the surface coverage of CuTCNQ microrods with gold nanoparticles occurred with an increased KAuBr4 concentration in acetonitrile, which also inhibited CuTCNQ dissolution. The reaction progress with time was monitored using UV−visible, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy as well as XRD and EDX analysis, and SEM imaging. The CuTCNQ/Au nanocomposites were investigated for their photocatalytic properties, wherein the destruction of Congo red, an organic dye, by simulated solar light was found dependent on the surface coverage of gold nanoparticles on the CuTCNQ microrods. This method of decorating CuTCNQ may open the possibility of modifying this and other metal-TCNQ charge transfer complexes with a host of other metals which may have significant applications.

Electrochemical formation of porous copper 7, 7, 8, 8-tetracyanoquinodimethane and copper 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrafluoro-7, 7, 8, 8-tetracyanoquinodimethane honeycomb surfaces with superhydrophobic properties

The electrochemical formation of highly porous CuTCNQ (TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) and CuTCNQF4 (TCNQF4 = 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) materials was undertaken via the spontaneous redox reaction between a porous copper template, created using a hydrogen bubbling template technique, and an acetonitrile solution containing TCNQ or TCNQF4. It was found that activation of the surface via vigorous hydrogen evolution that occurs during porous copper deposition and TCNQ mass transport being hindered through the porous network of the copper template influenced the growth of CuTCNQ and CuTCNQF4. This approach resulted in the fabrication of a honeycomb layered type structure where the internal walls consist of very fine crystalline needles or spikes. This combination of microscopic and nanoscopic roughness was found to be extremely beneficial for anti-wetting properties where superhydrophobic materials with contact angles as high as 177° were created. Given that CuTCNQ and CuTCNQF4 have shown potential as molecular based electronic materials in the area of switching and field emission, the creation of a surface that is moisture resistant may be of applied interest.

Hybrid antibacterial fabrics with extremely high aspect ratio Ag/AgTCNQ nanowires

This study reports the synthesis of extremely high aspect ratios (>3000) organic semiconductor nanowires of Ag–tetracyanoquinodimethane (AgTCNQ) on the surface of a flexible Ag fabric for the first time. These one-dimensional (1D) hybrid Ag/AgTCNQ nanostructures are attained by a facile, solution-based spontaneous reaction involving immersion of Ag fabrics in an acetonitrile solution of TCNQ. Further, it is discovered that these AgTCNQ nanowires show outstanding antibacterial performance against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, which outperforms that of pristine Ag. The outcomes of this study also reflect upon a fundamentally important aspect that the antimicrobial performance of Ag-based nanomaterials may not necessarily be solely due to the amount of Ag+ ions leached from these nanomaterials, but that the nanomaterial itself may also play a direct role in the antimicrobial action. Notably, the applications of metal-organic semiconducting charge transfer complexes of metal-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) have been predominantly restricted to electronic applications, except from our recent reports on their (photo)catalytic potential and the current case on antimicrobial prospects. This report on growth of these metal-TCNQ complexes on a fabric not only widens the window of these interesting materials for new biological applications, it also opens the possibilities for developing large-area flexible electronic devices by growing a range of metal-organic semiconducting materials directly on a fabric surface.

Electrochemical and photochemical routes to semiconducting transition metal-tetracyanoquinodimethane coordination polymers

TCNQ·− radical anions (TCNQ = 7,7,8,8,-tetracyanoquinodimethane) form a wide range of semiconducting coordination polymers when coordinated to transition metals. Some such as CuTCNQ and AgTCNQ exhibit molecular switching and memory storage properties; others have intriguing magnetic properties and for example may behave as molecular magnets at low temperature. In this review, the electro- and photo-chemical synthesis and characterization of this important class of material is reviewed. In particular, the electrochemistry and the redox properties of TCNQ derivatives of coordination polymers based on Cu, Ag, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn and Cd transition metals are surveyed, with an emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of their electrochemical formation via nucleation–growth processes. Given that TCNQ is an extremely good electron acceptor, readily forming TCNQ•− and TCNQ2-, electrochemical reduction of TCNQ in the presence of a transition metal ion provides an ideal method for synthesis of metal-TCNQ materials by electrocrystallization from organic solvents and ionic liquids or solid-solid transformation using TCNQ modified electrodes from aqueous media containing transition metal electrolytes. The significance of the reversible formal potential (E0f) in these studies is discussed. The coupling of electrocrystallisation on electrode surfaces and microscopic characterization of the electrodeposited materials reveals a wide range of morphologies and phases which strongly influence their properties and applications. Since TCNQ also can be photo-reduced in the presence of suitable electron donors, analogous photochemical approaches to the synthesis of TCNQ-transition metal derivatives are available. The advantages of electrochemical and photochemical methods of synthesis relative to chemical synthesis are outlined.