Strong electronic correlations in Li$_x$ZnPc organic metals

TL;DR

This study reveals that Li$_x$ZnPc organic metals exhibit strong electronic correlations with Fermi liquid behavior near half filling, and show signs of approaching a metal-insulator transition with potential for superconducting fluctuations.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of strong correlations and a possible metal-insulator transition in Li$_x$ZnPc, highlighting the role of electron localization and density of states at the Fermi level.

Findings

Fermi liquid behavior observed near room temperature

Delocalization for x≈2, localization tendency as x→4

Enhanced density of states at x≈2 indicating proximity to metal-insulator transition

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance and magnetization measurements show that bulk Li$_x$ZnPc are strongly correlated one-dimensional metals. The temperature dependence of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ and of the static uniform susceptibility $\chi_S$ on approaching room temperature are characteristic of a Fermi liquid. Moreover, while for $x\simeq 2$ the electrons are delocalized down to low temperature, for $x\to 4$ a tendency towards localization is noticed upon cooling, yielding an increase both in $1/T_1$ and $\chi_s$. The $x$-dependence of the effective density of states at the Fermi level $D(E_F)$ displays a sharp enhancement for $x\simeq 2$, at the half filling of the ZnPc lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals. This suggests that Li$_x$ZnPc is on the edge of a metal-insulator transition where enhanced superconducting fluctuations could develop.