Electrosynthesis of Copper-Tetracyanoquinodimethane Based on the Coupling Charge Transfer across Water/1,2-Dichloroethane Interface

•Organic semiconductor CuTCNQ is synthesized through electrochemistry of liquid/liquid interface.•A coupling charge transfer (CCT) mechanism is proposed for organic electrosynthesis.•The obtained CuTCNQ has good electrochemical and electronic properties.

The organic salt Copper-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (CuTCNQ) is an important semiconductor used in electronics for field-effect transistors, switches and memory devices. Here we present a novel electrosynthetic method of CuTCNQ microneedles based on the coupling charge transfer across water/1,2-dichloroethane (W/1,2-DCE) interface. A HOPG electrode is covered by a small volume of 1,2-DCE solution, which is further covered by an aqueous solution to construct the W/1,2-DCE interface. When TCNQ in 1,2-DCE phase is reduced on HOPG, Cu2+ in the aqueous solution will transfer across the W/1,2-DCE interface in order to maintain the electric neutrality. Therein CuTCNQ microneedles are formed which have good solid-state electrochemical and electronic properties. This coupling charge transfer mechanism is valuable and broadens the applications of liquid/liquid interface in organic electrosynthesis.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide