Characterization of Main Phase in Kxp-Terphenyl and Its Largest Congener Kxpoly(p-phenylene): A Report of Their Magnetic and Electric Properties

Abstract

The report of the Meissner effect in annealed samples of K3Tp (Tp = p-terphenyl) above 120 K has raised the interest in this deceptively simple material concerning superconductivity. We have investigated the structural integrity of the Tp framework in the annealed samples of KxTp at increasing processing time and temperature T. Our experimental studies show that both K2Tp and K3Tp mixing stoichiometries have identical Raman (solid state) and UV–vis (1,2-dimethoxyethane solution) spectra, being consistent with the molecular dianion by density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory simulations. Magnetization vs T plots show no signs of superconductivity and neither do conductance vs T plots. Searching for potentially active minor byproducts formed during thermal processing, the role of K-doped poly(p-phenylene) has been examined, but it does not seem to explain the reported effects either. Further efforts are needed to explain the nature of this elusive phenomenon.