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

Abstract 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.