Observation of Peierls transition in nanowires (diameter ∼ 130 nm) of the charge transfer molecule TTF–TCNQ synthesized by electric-field-directed growth

Abstract

We report the growth of nanowires of the charge transfer complex tetrathiafulvalene–tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF–TCNQ) with diameters as low as 130 nm and show that such nanowires can show Peierls transitions at low temperatures. The wires of sub-micron length were grown between two prefabricated electrodes (with sub-micron gap) by vapor phase growth from a single source by applying an electric field between the electrodes during the growth process. The nanowires so grown show a charge transfer ratio ∼0.57, which is close to that seen in bulk crystals. Below the transition the transport is strongly nonlinear and can be interpreted as originating from de-pinning of CDW that forms at the Peierls transition.