Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

From:       markbradshaw
Text:       I have heard bucky balls can be used as superconductors.  Could 
you tell me how this is possible?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      Robert Topper
Text:        Perhaps someone else has a little more specific information, but 
my understanding is that only solid, doped samples of fullerenes undergo a 
normal -) superconducting transition.  I believe that K3C60 goes 
superconducting at about 30 degrees Kelvin (that is COLD).  Up until about 10 
years ago most scientists thought that only metal alloys could act as 
superconductors, but now it is known that certain ceramics can superconduct at 
relatively high temperatures (up to around 140K last I heard) as can certain 
polymers.  As far as explaining to you WHY doped buckyball samples can 
superconduct, well, the answer is not yet completely known because there is no 
commonly agreed-upon mechanism for superconductivity at this time.  Most will 
agree that there is some sort of interaction between pairs of electrons that 
drags them through the lattice without slowing down or scattering off of 
atomic centers (i.e., without electrical resistance), but in most cases the 
source for this interaction is unknown or in hot contention.  I hope this was 
interesting and helped you understand superconductivity in C60 a little 
better.