The article provides an overview of organic superconductors, focusing on their unique properties and the scientific interest they have garnered over the past two decades. Organic conductors, composed of molecular units with carbon atoms and combinations of other elements, differ from conventional metals in their crystal structure and electronic properties. The unpaired electrons in π-molecular orbitals of donor units, combined with acceptor molecules, form charge-transfer salts that exhibit metallic conductivity due to π-hole delocalization.
The low-dimensional nature of these materials, either quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) or quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D), enhances electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, leading to a variety of interesting phenomena such as superconductivity, spin-Peierls transitions, and density waves. The discovery of superconductivity in (TMTSF)$_2$PF$_6$ in 1979 marked a significant milestone, and subsequent studies have explored a wide range of organic charge-transfer salts, including those with BEDT-TTF as the electron donor.
The article discusses the structural characteristics of these materials, including the packing motifs of donor molecules and the anion types, which influence the electronic structure and superconducting properties. It also delves into the normal-state properties, such as electronic structure, effective masses, and renormalization effects, as well as transport and optical properties like resistivity and temperature dependence.
The transport properties of organic superconductors exhibit anisotropies and power-law temperature dependencies, with some compounds showing a resistivity maximum above 80 K. The article explores various interpretations of this anomaly, including the formation of small polarons, metal-metal phase transitions, and density-wave transitions. The superconducting properties of these materials are further discussed, highlighting the highest transition temperatures observed in quasi-2D systems.
Overall, the article emphasizes the unique challenges and opportunities presented by organic superconductors, particularly in understanding the interplay of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in reduced dimensions.The article provides an overview of organic superconductors, focusing on their unique properties and the scientific interest they have garnered over the past two decades. Organic conductors, composed of molecular units with carbon atoms and combinations of other elements, differ from conventional metals in their crystal structure and electronic properties. The unpaired electrons in π-molecular orbitals of donor units, combined with acceptor molecules, form charge-transfer salts that exhibit metallic conductivity due to π-hole delocalization.
The low-dimensional nature of these materials, either quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) or quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D), enhances electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, leading to a variety of interesting phenomena such as superconductivity, spin-Peierls transitions, and density waves. The discovery of superconductivity in (TMTSF)$_2$PF$_6$ in 1979 marked a significant milestone, and subsequent studies have explored a wide range of organic charge-transfer salts, including those with BEDT-TTF as the electron donor.
The article discusses the structural characteristics of these materials, including the packing motifs of donor molecules and the anion types, which influence the electronic structure and superconducting properties. It also delves into the normal-state properties, such as electronic structure, effective masses, and renormalization effects, as well as transport and optical properties like resistivity and temperature dependence.
The transport properties of organic superconductors exhibit anisotropies and power-law temperature dependencies, with some compounds showing a resistivity maximum above 80 K. The article explores various interpretations of this anomaly, including the formation of small polarons, metal-metal phase transitions, and density-wave transitions. The superconducting properties of these materials are further discussed, highlighting the highest transition temperatures observed in quasi-2D systems.
Overall, the article emphasizes the unique challenges and opportunities presented by organic superconductors, particularly in understanding the interplay of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in reduced dimensions.