Organic superconductors are a class of materials that have attracted significant attention in condensed-matter physics due to their unique electronic and magnetic properties. These materials are composed of organic molecules that can conduct electricity, and their properties can be tuned by modifying the arrangement and bridging of these functional units. Organic conductors differ from conventional metals in that they are made up of molecular units constructed from carbon and other elements, which preserve their specific features when forming a crystal. These molecular units can have unpaired electrons, leading to electronic properties such as superconductivity.
The discovery of superconductivity in pressurized (TMTSF)₂PF₆ by Jérome et al. in 1979 was a major breakthrough, sparking interest in the study of organic superconductors. This finding was the result of interdisciplinary efforts in synthesizing and characterizing organic conductors, which began in the early 1950s. The unique chemistry of carbon allows for the synthesis of a wide variety of conducting organic charge-transfer salts. The geometry of the building blocks and their packing in the crystal determine the effective dimensionality of the electronic structure of the compound.
Organic superconductors exhibit a range of interesting phenomena, including spin-Peierls and density-wave states, as well as phases with localized charges and commensurate-type antiferromagnetic order. These states are highly sensitive to factors such as the acceptor ions, magnetic field, or external pressure. The low dimensionality of these materials enhances the effect of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, making them ideal model systems for studying these interactions in reduced dimensions.
The discussion of the superconducting-state properties of organic materials is complicated by contradictory experimental evidence. Some studies suggest an anisotropic superconducting state with a d-wave order parameter, while others support an order parameter that is finite everywhere on the Fermi surface. The nature of the state above Tc is also of interest, particularly in quasi-two-dimensional organic conductors, where unusual metallic properties have been observed.
The normal- and superconducting-state properties of organic superconductors are reviewed, with a focus on the quasi-one-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional materials. The discussion covers the electronic structure, transport properties, and optical properties of these materials. The electronic structure of organic superconductors is determined by the quasiparticles at the Fermi surface, and the energy-band structures have been calculated using a tight-binding scheme. The Fermi surface topology and effective masses are important for understanding the electronic properties of these materials.
The transport properties of organic superconductors are characterized by anisotropic electrical resistivity, which is a direct manifestation of the directional-dependent overlap integrals. The resistivity of these materials can vary widely depending on the compound and the current direction in respect to the crystal axes. The optical properties of these materials are also of interest, as they provide insights into the electronic structure and interactions within the material.Organic superconductors are a class of materials that have attracted significant attention in condensed-matter physics due to their unique electronic and magnetic properties. These materials are composed of organic molecules that can conduct electricity, and their properties can be tuned by modifying the arrangement and bridging of these functional units. Organic conductors differ from conventional metals in that they are made up of molecular units constructed from carbon and other elements, which preserve their specific features when forming a crystal. These molecular units can have unpaired electrons, leading to electronic properties such as superconductivity.
The discovery of superconductivity in pressurized (TMTSF)₂PF₆ by Jérome et al. in 1979 was a major breakthrough, sparking interest in the study of organic superconductors. This finding was the result of interdisciplinary efforts in synthesizing and characterizing organic conductors, which began in the early 1950s. The unique chemistry of carbon allows for the synthesis of a wide variety of conducting organic charge-transfer salts. The geometry of the building blocks and their packing in the crystal determine the effective dimensionality of the electronic structure of the compound.
Organic superconductors exhibit a range of interesting phenomena, including spin-Peierls and density-wave states, as well as phases with localized charges and commensurate-type antiferromagnetic order. These states are highly sensitive to factors such as the acceptor ions, magnetic field, or external pressure. The low dimensionality of these materials enhances the effect of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, making them ideal model systems for studying these interactions in reduced dimensions.
The discussion of the superconducting-state properties of organic materials is complicated by contradictory experimental evidence. Some studies suggest an anisotropic superconducting state with a d-wave order parameter, while others support an order parameter that is finite everywhere on the Fermi surface. The nature of the state above Tc is also of interest, particularly in quasi-two-dimensional organic conductors, where unusual metallic properties have been observed.
The normal- and superconducting-state properties of organic superconductors are reviewed, with a focus on the quasi-one-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional materials. The discussion covers the electronic structure, transport properties, and optical properties of these materials. The electronic structure of organic superconductors is determined by the quasiparticles at the Fermi surface, and the energy-band structures have been calculated using a tight-binding scheme. The Fermi surface topology and effective masses are important for understanding the electronic properties of these materials.
The transport properties of organic superconductors are characterized by anisotropic electrical resistivity, which is a direct manifestation of the directional-dependent overlap integrals. The resistivity of these materials can vary widely depending on the compound and the current direction in respect to the crystal axes. The optical properties of these materials are also of interest, as they provide insights into the electronic structure and interactions within the material.