Ambient-Atmosphere-Compatible Superconducting Fullerene

One of the most interesting aspects of the new carbon allotropes, the fullerenes, is their versatile electronic properties, which range from insulating to superconducting depending on the type and level of admixtured elements. The record fulleride transition temperatures have been steadily rising and is 45K at this writing. Fullerenes even have advantages over the ceramic superconductors because of their simple chemistry,isotropic conduction, and potential for infrared sensitivity. The main obstacle to the electronic usefulness of the fullerides is their chemical incompatibility with the ambient atmosphere. MER's outlines an approach in which several methods of producing doped fullerides are evaluated. The techniques investigated include 1) incorporating dopants inside the fullerene cage during creation using MER's production equipment, 2) using alternate, more stable interstitial dopants, and 3) using protective overlayers on alkali doped thin films which will isolate the atmosphere sensitive alkali atoms form the air.