Organic charge-transfer salt shows superconductivity

Abstract

A highly anisotropic organic charge-transfer salt has been made that shows a variety of fascinating properties. The material, (TMTSF)2PF6, is the first organic solid to become superconducting. But the superconducting transition occurs at about 1.3 K and with the application of 6 kbar pressure. One can make other related salts, retaining the TMTSF as donor and replacing the acceptor with another inorganic anion, such as AsF6, or ClO4. These related salts are also superconductors with lower applied pressure or even atmospheric pressure but still at very low temperature.