Optimized unconventional superconductivity in a molecular Jahn-Teller metal

Zadik, R. H. et al. (2015) Optimized unconventional superconductivity in a molecular Jahn-Teller metal. Science Advances, 1(3), e1500059. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1500059)

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between the superconducting, the neighboring insulating, and the normal metallic state above Tc is a major challenge for all unconventional superconductors. The molecular A3C60 fulleride superconductors have a parent antiferromagnetic insulator in common with the atom-based cuprates, but here, the C603– electronic structure controls the geometry and spin state of the structural building unit via the on-molecule Jahn-Teller effect. We identify the Jahn-Teller metal as a fluctuating microscopically heterogeneous coexistence of both localized Jahn-Teller–active and itinerant electrons that connects the insulating and superconducting states of fullerides. The balance between these molecular and extended lattice features of the electrons at the Fermi level gives a dome-shaped variation of Tc with interfulleride separation, demonstrating molecular electronic structure control of superconductivity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ganin, Dr Alexey
• Authors: Zadik, R. H., Takabayashi, Y., Klupp, G., Colman, R. H., Ganin, A. Y., Potocnik, A., Jeglic, P., Arcon, D., Matus, P., Kamaras, K., Kasahara, Y., Iwasa, Y., Fitch, A. N., Ohishi, Y., Garbarino, G., Kato, K., Rosseinsky, M. J., and Prassides, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Science Advances
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 2375-2548
• ISSN (Online): 2375-2548
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Science Advances 1(3):e1500059
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License