ELECTROCHEMICAL FORMATION OF CONTACTS BETWEEN PLATINUM OR GOLD ELECTRODES WITH THE ORGANIC CHARGE-TRANSFER SALTS TETRATHIAFULVALENIUM BROMIDE (TTFBRX, X = 0.74-0.79) OR BIS(TETRAMETHYLTETRASELENAFULVALENIUM) PERCHLORATE ((TMTSF)(2)CLO4)

Conducting crystals of the charge-transfer salts TTFBrx (tetrathiafulv alenium bromide) and (TMTSF)(2)ClO4 (bis(tetramethyltetraselenafulvale nium) perchlorate) were studied. The needle-shaped crystals were grown between pairs of platinum or gold electrodes by oxidative electrodepo sition. An electrical connection was formed when a crystal growing fro m one electrode (base electrode) encountered the second electrode (tar get electrode). It was found that electrical contacts form even if the potential of the target electrode is considerably lower than the elec trocrystallization potential of the charge-transfer salt. Contacts bet ween crystal and target electrode are surprisingly adherent, as seen i n experiments where crystals detach from the base electrode and stick to the target electrode. They can also be disconnected and reconnected reversibly by manipulation of the potential of the base electrode, wh ich results in dissolution and recrystallization of the organic salt i n the vicinity of the target electrode.