Observation of Meissner effect in potassium-doped \emph{p}-quinquephenyl}

TL;DR

This study reports the discovery of superconductivity at 7.3 K in potassium-doped p-quinquephenyl, evidenced by magnetic susceptibility measurements and Raman spectra indicating bipolaron formation, highlighting organic compounds' potential as high-temperature superconductors.

Contribution

First demonstration of superconductivity in potassium-doped p-quinquephenyl with comprehensive magnetic and spectroscopic evidence.

Findings

Superconductivity observed at 7.3 K in potassium-doped p-quinquephenyl.

Magnetic susceptibility confirms Meissner effect and zero-resistivity.

Raman spectra indicate bipolaron formation, suggesting a role in superconductivity.

Abstract

The chain-like organic compounds with conjugated structure have the potential to become high temperature superconductors. We examine this idea by choosing p-quinquephenyl with five phenyl rings connected in para position. The dc magnetic susceptibility measurements provide solid evidence for the presence of Meissner effect when the compound is doped by potassium. The real part of the ac susceptibility shows exactly same transition temperature as that in dc magnetization, and the imaginary part of nearly zero value after transition implies the realization of zero-resistivity. All these features support the existence of superconductivity with a critical temperature of 7.3 K in this material. The occurrence of bipolarons revealed by Raman spectra guarantees potassium metal intercalated into p-quinquephenyl and suggests the important role of this elementary excitation played on superconductivity.