Electronic and electron-phonon phenomena in low-dimensional BEDT-TTF-based organic conductors and superconductors

Abstract

Two related groups of k-phase ion-radical salts (BEDT-TTF) with different electrical properties, namely, superconductors with different transition temperatures and conductors, which transfer to insulating state with decreasing temperature, have been studied by micro-optic spectroscopy. Polarized reflectance spectra of microcrystals have been measured for the three principal crystallographic directions within the 700–40000 cm⁻¹ region, and the corresponding spectra of the optical functions obtained. The anisotropy of the electronic system in the crystals has been established as two-dimensional. The spectra obtained were quantitatively analyzed, the key parameters of the electronic structure and the vibronic coupling constants determined. It is concluded that the conductors have smaller vibronic coupling constants, more narrow allowed electronic bands, and stronger electron-electron interaction compared to those of the superconductors, and that vibronic coupling is the necessary condition for the onset of superconductivity in the superconductors studied.