λ-(BETS)2GaBr
x
Cl4
-
x
[BETS = bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2] is a molecular
superconductor with strongly correlated conduction electrons. The electrical transport properties of λ-(BETS)2GaBr
x
Cl4
-
x
are drastically changed by varying the bromine content x or by applying pressure. At ambient pressure,
the superconducting transition could be observed for x < 0.75. The pressure and x dependencies of T
c were
examined. The M−H curve (M = magnetization; H = magnetic field) at 2 K indicated the almost perfect
Meissner state of the superconducting phase of λ-(BETS)2GaCl4. The H
c1 is ∼8 Oe for H
⊥ and 12 Oe for H
∥,
where H
⊥ and H
∥ are the magnetic fields perpendicular and parallel to the c axis, respectively. The magnetic
susceptibility of λ-(BETS)2GaBr
x
Cl4
-
x
increases with decreasing temperature to ∼60 K, below which the
susceptibility becomes x-dependent and tends to be suppressed with increasing x. The isotropic decrease of
the static susceptibility at lower temperature observed in the insulating system with x > 1.0 indicates the
insulating ground state seems not to be antiferromagnetic but probably nonmagnetic. The crystal structure
determinations of a series of λ-(BETS)2GaBr
x
Cl4
-
x
and the calculations of the intermolecular overlap integrals
of the highest occupied molecular orbital of BETS were made to elucidate a key factor of the superconducting
transition mechanism. The x-dependence of intermolecular overlap integrals seems to suggest that the magnitude
of the “spin gap” of the nonmagnetic insulating state tends to be diminished with decreasing x. There exists
one intermolecular overlap integral exhibiting a large temperature and x-dependence, which seems to play a
crucial role in determining the nature of the ground state.
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