Low-temperature self-assembly of copper phthalocyanine nanofibers

This paper describes a method for producing 1D organic nanofibers by exploiting intermolecular dispersive forces during the self-assembly of CuPc molecules. The average length of these CuPc nanofibers deposited at 100 °C, a temperature much lower than that required for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, was ca. 500 nm, with diameters in the range 15–50 nm. XRD analysis of these nanofibers revealed that they possessed an α phase structure. HRTEM images indicated that the CuPc nanofibers formed through layered stacking of CuPc molecules. These CuPc nanofibers exhibit field emission characteristics (with a turn-on field of 13.6 V/μm) and follow Fowler–Nordheim behavior in a manner similar to that of carbon nanotubes. The stable emission current and relative simplicity of their synthesis suggest a broad range of applications for CuPc nanofibers in nanoscience and nanotechnology.