Synthesis and electrical conductivity of perchlorate-doped TTF–diamide nanofibers with double and triple helix structures

Abstract

We synthesized 4,5-bis(octadecylthio)-4′,5′-bis(ethylcarbamoyl)tetrathiafulvalene and measured the electrical conductivity of its perchlorate (ClO₄⁻)-doped nanofibers, which have double and triple helix structures. The nanostructure of the bis(octadecylthio)-TTF–diamide and its ClO₄⁻-doped fibers in a 3 : 1 ratio was deduced in relation to the X-ray crystal structure of bis(methylthio)-TTF–diamide. The doubly coiled nanofibers form when initially formed spiral ribbons of lamellarly arranged TTF–diamide perchlorate split in the middle, and a further split of the double helix produces the triplex structure. Temperature-dependent conductance and current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the coiled fibers were measured in the temperature (T) range of 70–300 K. The conductance decreased with a decrease in T, and the I–V characteristics were nonlinear over the entire T range. The results were analyzed by using a modified fluctuation-induced tunneling conduction model, where the barrier height and width were linearly dependent on the electric field.