New Directions in Molecular Superconductivity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
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Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Matthew Rosseinsky (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Potocnik A
(2014)
Jahn-Teller orbital glass state in the expanded fcc Cs 3 C 60 fulleride
in Chem. Sci.
Kasahara Y
(2014)
Spin frustration and magnetic ordering in the S = 1 2 molecular antiferromagnet fcc - Cs 3 C 60
in Physical Review B
Potocnik A
(2014)
Size and symmetry of the superconducting gap in the f.c.c. Cs3C60 polymorph close to the metal-Mott insulator boundary.
in Scientific reports
McLennan AG
(2014)
Synthesis of face-centred cubic Cs3C60 in THF.
in Faraday discussions
Zadik RH
(2015)
Optimized unconventional superconductivity in a molecular Jahn-Teller metal.
in Science advances
Takabayashi Y
(2016)
50 Years of Structure and Bonding - The Anniversary Volume
Zhang J
(2016)
Potassium-mediated stereochemical assistance to form one indenonaphthacene isomer from rubrene with complementary diastereoselectivity to the acid based protocol
in Organic Chemistry Frontiers
Takabayashi Y
(2016)
Unconventional high-Tc superconductivity in fullerides.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Kasahara Y
(2017)
Upper critical field reaches 90 tesla near the Mott transition in fulleride superconductors.
in Nature communications
Romero FD
(2017)
Redox-controlled potassium intercalation into two polyaromatic hydrocarbon solids.
in Nature chemistry
| Description | We have identified a new state of matter, the Jahn-Teller metal, as the key electronic state responsible for unconventional superconductivity in the alkali metal fullerides. This demonstrates the control of an extended electronic state (the metallic state) by the electronic structure of a molecule. We have found the superconductors with the highest critical fields known for three-dimensional structures. We have identified the first structures reported in the field on metal (phen) acenes, a key advance for this field where superconductivity was reported in 2010, but until our work no crystal structures were known. This is essential information to place the entire field on a firm basis where properties can be linked to crystal structure and chemical composition. Although we have not identified any superconductors, a quantum spin liquid ground state is displayed in an open shell organic-based material for the first time. The new metal-hydrocarbon chemistry we have developed is reported in two back-to-back Nature Chemistry papers. We have understood how to control the reaction conditions to avoid the chemically-driven decomposition of the hydrocarbon molecule while allowing the formation of the metal-hydrocarbon solids, which opens up a new set of opportunities for the synthesis of open-shell organic molecular materials beyond the C60 intercalation compounds. |
| Exploitation Route | The advantage of molecular over atomic constituents of superconducting materials is that their electronic structures can be tailored by chemical synthesis. The identification of the molecular electronic feature that controls the unconventional superconductivity in these materials, in this case the orbital degeneracy of the C60 molecule (three electronic states in the molecule have the same energy) will allow the identification of new molecules as targets for synthesis in the quest for new superconducting materials, as their electronic structure can be expected to influence directly the electronic properties of the resulting extended solid. The observation of very high critical fields will enable new design motifs for three-dimensional superconducting systems. The four new metal (phen)acene solids are the first of this class of material to be isolated and studied. One of them displays a three-dimentional quantum spin liquid ground state, of interest for the development of new approaches to information storage. By further expanding this class of materials beyond the first four examples, we have shown in general how to allow the formation of these metal-hydrocarbon solids without chemical decomposition of the hydrocarbon, opening up a new field for study based on electron transfer to organic molecules. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Transport |
| Description | The identification of unsaturated hydrocarbons likely to form intercalation compounds of the type studied in this project has led to the development of machine-learning models to predict the formation of unsaturated cocrystals. The broad impact of these models for organic materials has formed the topic of several discussions with companies, informing their own internal data science strategies. The development of these models is directly attributable to the science developed in this project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Chemicals |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Title | Experimental data for "Redox-controlled potassium intercalation into two polyaromatic hydrocarbon solids" |
| Description | Experimental data for "Redox-controlled potassium intercalation into two polyaromatic hydrocarbon solids" including powder X-ray diffractograms; Raman spectra; IR spectra; magnetisation data; DFT calculations. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | No known impacts |
| URL | http://datacat.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/252 |
| Description | Prof Rosseinsky gave an invited talk at Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry Industrial Steering Group meeting, Birmingham, 28 November 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented on the topic of "Digital Materials Research and Innovation at the Materials Innovation Factory" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof. Rosseinsky gave an invited lecture at Quantum Materials Synthesis 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk on New approaches to the discovery of inorganic materials and interfaces, for the dissemination of results for academic discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof. Rosseinsky gave an invited lecture at UKSR50 - 50 years of Synchrotron Radiation in the UK and its global impact, 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on "Design of advanced materials? The importance of knowing where the atoms are.", for the dissemination of results for academic discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |