Nanometer-scale holes and words were reproducibly create don a typical organic charge transfer compound, Triethylammonium Bis-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethanide (TEA(TCNQ(₂) single crystal, using scanning tunneling microscope in ambient conditions by applying a pulse voltage across the tunneling gap. The decomposition products of TEA(TCNQ)₂ single crystal were investigated with mass spectroscopy by applying a pulse to the crystal in a vacuum tube. TEA was the sole product being detected. A micro-Raman Spectroscopy was used to fabricate and characterize the sample using a He-Ne laser. A dots array was written by a focused beam and in situ Raman spectra showed the same was decomposited. The most possible mechanism of holes formation appears to be TEA(TCNQ)₂ decomposition and TEA evaporation by heating effect of STM current. Comparing data storage in TEA(TCNQ)₂ single crystal with a market-sell CD-R disk, the writing threshold value of TEA(TCNQ)₂ is much smaller than that of the CD-R disk. This kind of organic conductor may be a promising material for the STM-based high density storage and popular optical storage techniques.

Date Published: 17 April 2000
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 3937, Micro- and Nano-photonic Materials and Devices, (17 April 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.382808

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3937:
Micro- and Nano-photonic Materials and Devices
Joseph W. Perry; Axel Scherer, Editor(s)