Dual-action molecular superconductors with magnetic anions

Abstract

Dual-action organic superconductors, whose conducting properties can be sharply controlled by an external magnetic field, have been discovered in systems consisting of organic conduction layers based on bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene (BETS) molecules and magnetic anions. Owing to the metamagnetic nature of the anion layers, the superconducting state of kappa-BETS2FeBr4 can be switched on or off by applying the external field. In lambda-BETS2Fe0.4Ga0.6Cl4, exhibiting a field-induced superconducting transition for the field parallel to the conduction plane, the insulating, metallic, and superconducting states can be realized in a stepwise manner by slightly tuning the external magnetic field.