Effect of 2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile on preparation of copper structures by electrochemical deposition

2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile was synthesized via a condensation reaction. The films that are prepared by the potentiodynamic polymerization of 2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile on indium fin oxide (ITO) exhibits a well-defined reproducible redox behavior in tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF(6)) in CH2Cl2 electrolyte. Copper (Cu) structures were then deposited on the patterns of poly(2-(pyren-l-ylmethylene) malononitrile)/ITO electrochemically with a constant potential and time using a combined electrochemical technique. The electrochemical properties of the obtained polymer films are studied by cyclic voltammetry. Characterizations of the resulting poly(2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile) and poly(2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile)-Cu were performed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the shape and density of the Cu deposits on poly(2-(pyrene-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile)-ITO can be controlled depending on electrodeposition time of Cu and the presence of poly(2-(pyrene-1-ylmethylene) malononitrile) used as a template created by electropolymerization on ITO. These controllable nanostructured thin films have an attractive potential for practical applications in nanotechnology.