Synthesis and Physical Properties of a Novel, Highly Tunable Family of Organic Superconductors: (ET)₂M(CF₃)₄(1,1,2-trihaloethane) (M = Cu, Ag, Au)

Abstract

Abstract Electrocrystallization of the bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET) electron donor molecule with the novel M(CF3)4 − (M = Cu, Ag, and Au) anions in a variety of 1,1,2-trihaloethane solvents has led to the discovery of a remarkable series of 21 organic superconductors. These (ET)2 M(CF3)4(1,1,2-trihaloethane) salts occur in two structural modifications of the κ-type packing motif. Crystals of the plate-like morphology have superconducting transition temperatures in the range 2–5.8 K (low T c phase, κL), while the transitions of the needle-like morphology are in the range 9.2-11.1 K (high T c phase, κH).