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TEM characterization of organic nanocrystals grown in sol–gel thin films

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Abstract

The tetracene molecule (2,3-benzanthracene, C8H12) was used to synthesize nanocrystals grown in sol–gel thin films, ranging from 10 to 100 nm of diameter. This confined nucleation and growth was compared to microcrystallizations of the same molecule in free solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize these two kinds of tetracene crystals. The observation was performed under low-dose illumination to avoid amorphization of the samples during electron irradiation. Spatial confinement and size distribution of micro- and nanocrystals were compared. Using electron microdiffraction and diffraction patterns simulations, we showed that free microcrystals and nanocrystals confined in gel glasses exhibit the same triclinic \( P\overline 1 \) structure. In addition, time-resolved spectroscopy was used to record fluorescence decays, showing a monoexponential fluorescence decay for nanocrystals while microcrystals exhibit a multiexponential decay. The simple signature of nanocrystals luminescence is promising for the future development of chemical or biological sensors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank B. Boury (LCMOS Montpellier) for the synthesis of TMSE sol–gel precursor and R. Pansu (PPSM Cachan) for time-resolved spectroscopy measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Néel, CNRS & Université Joseph Fourier, BP 166, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, France

    Virginie Monnier, Maria Bacia & Alain Ibanez

  2. Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales, ICMG-CNRS, BP 53, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38041, France

    Jean-Luc Putaux

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  1. Virginie Monnier
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  2. Maria Bacia
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  3. Jean-Luc Putaux
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  4. Alain Ibanez
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Correspondence to Alain Ibanez.

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Monnier, V., Bacia, M., Putaux, JL. et al. TEM characterization of organic nanocrystals grown in sol–gel thin films. J Nanopart Res 10, 129–139 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9228-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9228-4

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