Synthesis and structure of a non-van-der-Waals two-dimensional coordination polymer with superconductivity.

Pan, Zhichao; Huang, Xing; Fan, Yunlong; Wang, Shaoze; Liu, Yiyu; Cong, Xuzhong; Zhang, Tingsong; Qi, Shichao et al. · Nat Commun · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Two-dimensional conjugated coordination polymers exhibit remarkable charge transport properties, with copper-based benzenehexathiol (Cu-BHT) being a rare superconductor. However, the atomic structure of Cu-BHT has remained unresolved, hindering a deeper understanding of the superconductivity in such materials. Here, we show the synthesis of single crystals of Cu<sub>3</sub>BHT with high crystallinity, revealing a quasi-two-dimensional kagome structure with non-van der Waals interlayer Cu-S covalent bonds. These crystals exhibit intrinsic metallic behavior, with conductivity reaching 10<sup>3 </sup>S/cm at 300 K and 10<sup>4 </sup>S/cm at 2 K. Notably, superconductivity in Cu<sub>3</sub>BHT crystals is observed at 0.25 K, attributed to enhanced electron-electron interactions and electron-phonon coupling in the non-van der Waals structure. The discovery of this clear correlation between atomic-level crystal structure and electrical properties provides a crucial foundation for advancing superconductor coordination polymers, with potential to revolutionize future quantum devices.