Design of the electronic structure of poly-MTO

TL;DR

This paper explores how intercalating organic molecules like TTF into poly-MTO alters its electronic properties, transitioning from metallic to insulating behavior due to electron localization.

Contribution

It demonstrates the ability to tailor the electronic structure of poly-MTO through organic donor intercalation, a novel approach in organometallic hybrid design.

Findings

Increased TTF intercalation suppresses metallic behavior.

Higher TTF levels lead to electron localization.

Poly-MTO transitions from metal to insulator with donor increase.

Abstract

Polymeric methyltrioxorhenium (poly-MTO) is the first member of a new class of organometallic hybrids which adopts the structural motives and physical properties of classical perowskites in two dimensions. In this study we demonstrate how the electronic structure of poly-MTO can be tailored by intercalation of organic donor molecules such as tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). With increasing donor intercalation the metallic behavior of the parent compound, (CH$_{3}$)$_{0.92}$ReO$_{3} \cdot x%$ TTF ($x = 0$) becomes suppressed leading to an insulator at donor concentrations $x$ larger than 50. Specific heat, electric resistance and magnetic susceptibility studies indicate that an increasing amount of TTF causes the itinerant electrons of the poly-MTO matrix to localize.