(186k) Hybrid Nanostructure: Organic Rods Formation Induced by Inorganic Nanoparticles

Organic-inorganic hybrids combine and sometimes enhance the functionalities of different material groups and are therefore attractive in electronic, optical, and biosensing applications. Here we present the organic nanorods formation induced by inorganic nanoparticles using spin coating or electrochemical method. Carboxylic acids adsorb epitaxially on graphite basal plane to form self-assembled nano-stripe patterns. We found that this persistent nano-stripe pattern is perturbed by the presence of thiol-protected cadmium selenide nanoparticles, and carboxylic acid nanorods are formed with uniform height and width. AFM is used to characterize the nanoparticle/nanorod hybrid architecture and to understand the nanoconfinement effect imposed by the nanoparticle seed. This seed-mediated nanorod formation is investigated using organic conductive materials such as tetrathiafulvalene via electrochemical methods. Electrocrystallization enables the precise control of crystal growth by controlling the electrochemical potential. The organic conductors improve the stability and add functionality into the original carboxylic acid crystallization scheme.