Electrocrystallisation of organic superconductors
Résumé
An accelerated video (x20000) from the Orsay laboratory showing the growth of (TMTSF)2PF6 single crystals in the anode compartment of an electrochemical cell. PF6- anions enter in the electrocrystallization process as a tetrabutylammonium salt which is soluble in a solvent like tetrahydrofuran,THF. One electron is removed from every neutral TMTSF in the anode compartment being oxidized by the current passing through the cell leading in turn to the cation radical TMTSF+. Then, two cation radicals combining with one anion of the electrolyte give rise to the simple salt (TMTSF)2PF6 which precipitates at the anode as a non-soluble molecular salt. These centimeters long high-quality single crystals have been used for the discovery of superconductivity in organic matter, see (https://hal.science/jpa-00231730).