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Alkali‐Metal‐Intercalated Percolation Network Regulates Self‐Assembled Electronic Aromatic Molecules
Author(s) -
Hu Yong,
Zhong Guohua,
Guan YingShi,
Lee Nam Hoon,
Zhang Yuan,
Li Yang,
Mitchell Travis,
Armstrong Jason N.,
Benedict Jason,
Hla SawWai,
Ren Shenqiang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201807178
Subject(s) - materials science , chemical physics , intercalation (chemistry) , percolation (cognitive psychology) , dipole , alkali metal , electronic structure , percolation threshold , molecule , graphene , molecular solid , nanotechnology , computational chemistry , electrical resistivity and conductivity , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology
In the continuously growing field of correlated electronic molecular crystals, there is significant interest in addressing alkali‐metal‐intercalated aromatic hydrocarbons, in which the possibility of high‐temperature superconductivity emerges. However, searching for superconducting aromatic molecular crystals remains elusive due to their small shielding fraction volume. To exploit this potential, a design principle for percolation networks of technologically important film geometry is indispensable. Here the effect of potassium‐intercalation is shown on the percolation network in self‐assembled aromatic molecular crystals. It is demonstrated that one‐dimensional (1D) dipole pairs, induced by dipole interaction, regulate the conductivity, as well as the electronic and optical transitions, in alkali‐metal‐intercalated molecular electronic crystals. A solid‐solution growth methodology of aromatic molecular films with a broad range of stability is developed to uncover electronic and optical transitions of technological importance. The light‐induced electron interactions enhance the charge‐carrier itinerancy, leading to a switchable metal‐to‐insulator transition. This discovery opens a route for the development of aromatic molecular electronic solids and long‐term modulation of electronic efficacy in nanotechnologically important thin films.