Organic Conductors

At present, “organic conductors” include various kinds of solids containing organic polymers, inorganic ions, metal complexes, and metal clusters in addition to organic molecules. Their physical properties of interest cover electrical, magnetic, structural, optical, dielectric, and mechanical properties, all of which are based on the unique aspects of molecular solids. The most prominent feature of organic conductors and their related materials is a wide variety of degrees of freedom, which enable peculiar electronic states, physical properties, and phase transitions otherwise unobserved (examples and keywords are listed below). As a result, even an insulating organic crystalline material can be a center of interest in this field (e.g., when it provides an important piece of information concerning the mechanism of superconductivity, and other subjects of broad interest from the abovementioned point of view).

Beginning with the pioneering work on organic semiconductors of Akamatu, Inokuchi, and Matsunaga in 1954, the research field of organic conductors has accumulated a series of milestones such as TTF-TCNQ in 1973, doped polyacetylene in 1977, superconducting TMTSF and BEDT-TTF salts mainly in the 1980s–1990s, respectively, and the advent of doped fullerenes in 1991. Since this initial stage of history, which could be described as “the age of new surprising materials”, the researchers in the field have entered and enjoyed “the age of new physics in the surprising materials”. The third stage of history, which builds on the previous two decades, is characterized by the bloom in studies on various electronic devices based on the organic conductors, both in basic and applied research. Now, in 2020, this ever-expanding and -developing field is turning a new corner experiencing a renaissance, and looking for further interesting and exciting targets yet to be explored. On this occasion, I would like to call for papers from a wide spectrum of researchers, irrespective of their careers in this field. New materials, new ideas, and new methodologies will certainly interact with each other to bring about a chemical reaction, which will propel the field in a new direction and a new age.

Prof. Toshio Naito
Guest Editor

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