Competition between organic superconductivity and a displacive structural modulation in the molecular stacks in bis(ethylenedithio) tetrathiafulvalene perrhenate, (BEDT-TTF)2ReO4

Superconductivity mediated by charge fluctuations in layered molecular crystals

We consider the competition between superconducting, charge ordered, and metallic phases in layered molecular crystals with the theta and beta(") structures. Applying slave-boson theory to the relevant extended Hubbard model, we show that the superconductivity is mediated by charge fluctuations and the Cooper pairs have d(xy) symmetry. This is in contrast to the kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X family, for which theoretical calculations give superconductivity mediated by spin fluctuations and with d(x(2)-y(2)) symmetry. We predict several materials that should become superconducting under pressure.