Synthetic Metals, 41-43 (1991) 1879-1883 1879
STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF NEW 2 : 1 SERIES OF ORGANIC CONDUCTORS
Q. LIU, S. RAVY, R. MORET AND J.P. POUGET
Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, associ6 au CNRS, 8&timent 510, Universit~ de
Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay (France).
C. COULON
Centre de Recherche P. Pascal, Avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac (France).
K. BECHGAARD
H.C. Oersted Institute, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen (Denmark).
ABSTRACT
We report on the relation between the structural and physical properties of 3 new
series of 2 : 1 salts isomorphous to the Bechgaard salts, but based on the
unsymmetrical molecules BCPTTF, tTTF and TMDTDSF. In the two first series the
orientation of the molecules is ordered. With octahedral anions, (BCPTTF)2X and
(tTTF)2X exhibit respectively spin-Peierls and antiferromagnetic ground states at
critical temperatures sizeably higher than for the (TMTTF)2X series. In (TMDTDF)2X
when the anions are small the orientation of the TMDTDSF molecule is found to be
disordered. This disorder has dramatic effects on the anion ordering (A.O.) transition
occuring when X is non-centrosymmetric. These effects are analyzed in the light of our
present understanding of the A.O. mechanism and compared with previous results
obtained with the (TMTSF)2_ x (TMTTF)x CIO 4 and (TMTSF)2 (CIO4) l_x (ReO4)x
solids solutions.
INTRODUCTION
In contrast with two-chain organic one-dimensional (1D) conductors of the
TTF-TCNQ family which always present a low temperature 2k F charge-density wave
(CDW) ground state, the 2 : 1 one-chain quasi-lD conductors based on the TMTSF or
TMTTF molecules exhibit a rich variety of phase transitions leading either to
superconductivity or to magnetic or dielectric insulating ground states. Among these
latter, and for centrosymmetric anions, an antiferromagnetic SDW ground state is
observed in (TMTSF)2 PF6 and (TMTTF)2 Br or SbF 6, and a non-magnetic
spin-Peierls ground state in (TMTTF)2 PF6 and AsF6. In addition a rich variety of
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