Current-induced insulator-metal transition and pattern formation in an organic charge-transfer complex.

Kumai, R; Okimoto, Y; Tokura, Y · Science · 1999

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Organic molecular Mott insulators, in which carriers are localized as a result of the electron correlation, showed nonlinear electric conduction upon application of a high electric field along the molecular stacking axis. The current-driven low-resistive state of potassium 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethanane was stabilized down to 2 kelvin, where a metallic path was visible with a microscope. The current flow caused a stripe-like periodic phase-segregation into the carrier-rich and carrier-poor regions along the current path.