Physics and Chemistry of Materials with B – serie

The close relationship between experimentalists and theorists – whether solid state chemists or physicists – has, in the last few years, inspired much research in the field of materials with quasi one-dimensional structures. This volume, Part I of a two-volume set, reviews the basic theories describing the physical properties of one-dimensional materials including their superconducting characteristics. This description is mainly based on the properties of transition metal trichalcogenides. The novel collective transport mechanism for electronic conduction, exhibited by some of the latter compounds – NbSe3 being considered as the prototype – is surveyed according to a classical theory and a theory including macroscopic quantum effects. In addition, the book contains a description of the properties of non-linear excitations, or solitons, in one-dimensional systems.

The close relationship between experimentalists and theorists – whether solid state chemists or physicists – has, in the last few years, inspired much research in the field of materials with quasi one-dimensional structures. Part II of this two-volume set deals with the experimental treatment of pseudo-one-dimensional conductors. Included are contributions on platinum chains, (SN)x and (SNBry)x, the optical properties of 1-D inorganic metals, CDW transport in transition metal chalcogenides, and a lattice dynamical study of transition metal trichalcogenides.

The close relationship between experimentalists and theorists – whether solid state chemists or physicists – has, in the last few years, inspired much research in the field of materials with quasi one-dimensional structures. Part I of this two-volume set, reviews the basic theories describing the physical properties of one-dimensional materials including their superconducting characteristics. This description is mainly based on the properties of transition metal trichalcogenides. The novel collective transport mechanism for electronic conduction, exhibited by some of the latter compounds – NbSe3 being considered as the prototype – is surveyed according to a classical theory and a theory including macroscopic quantum effects. In addition, the book contains a description of the properties of non-linear excitations, or solitons, in one-dimensional systems. Part II of this two-volume set deals with the experimental treatment of pseudo-one-dimensional conductors. Included are contributions on platinum chains, (SN)x and (SNBry)x, the optical properties of 1-D inorganic metals, CDW transport in transition metal chalcogenides, and a lattice dynamical study of transition metal trichalcogenides.

This volume presents a sequence of articles which describe the theoretical treat­ ments of investigating the fundamental features in the electronic structures and properties of typical quasi-one-dimensional solids; organic conductor TTF-TCNQ, polyacetylene, metallic and superconducting polymer (SN)n and linear chain chal­ cogenides and halides of transition elements including NbSe3' The aim of this volume is not to present an exhaustive review but rather to touch on a selective class of problems which appear to be fundamental for typical quasi-one-dimensional solids. Thus the topics in this volume are rather confined to the key basic properties of quasi-one-dimensional systems. The quasi-one-dimensional solids are one of the most extensively investigated subjects in current physics, chemistry and materials science. These materials are unique in attracting a broad range of scientists, chemists, experimental and theore­ tical physicists, materials scientists and engineers. In 1954 Frohlich constructed a theory of superconductivity based on a one-dimensional model of moving charge density waves. In 1955 Peierls predicted that anyone-dimensional metal is unstable against the distortion of a periodic lattice so that a metal-nonmetal transition occurs at a certain temperature for a one-dimensional metal. According to these theories a gap is opened at the Fermi surfaces of one-dimensional conductors at low tempera­ tures and the charge density wave is created in connection with the occurrence of the gap.

There is no doubt that in the development of the Physics and Chemistry of Solids during the last fifteen years, the very important place taken by low-dimensional compounds will be remembered as a major event. Dealing very widely at the beginning with two-dimensional structures and intercalation chemistry, this theme progressively evolved as the synthesis of one-dimensional conductors increased, along with the observation of their remarkable properties. Beyond the classical separation of the traditional disciplines, essential progress has stemmed each time from the concerted efforts of, and overlapping between, chemists, experimental physicists, and theoreticians. This book is a synthetic approach which aims to retrace these united efforts. The observation and characterization of charge density waves in their static or dynamic aspects have been the main points to attract the interest of researchers. Two broad categories of compounds have been the material basis of these observa­ tions: transition-metal polychalcogenides and either condensed-cluster phases or bronze-type compounds. These families are referred to throughout the various chapters of this book, thus illustrating the continuous progress of concepts in this domain and, at the same time, providing the first synthetic and exhaustive view of this group of materials.

There is no doubt that in the development of the Physics and Chemistry of Solids during the last fifteen years, the very important place taken by low-dimensional compounds will be remembered as a major event. Dealing very widely at the beginning with two-dimensional structures and intercalation chemistry, this theme progressively evolved as the synthesis of one-dimensional conductors increased, along with the observation of their remarkable properties. Beyond the classical separation of the traditional disciplines, essential progress has stemmed each time from the concerted efforts of, and overlapping between, chemists, experimental physicists, and theoreticians. This book is a synthetic approach which aims to retrace these united efforts. The observation and characterization of charge density waves in their static or dynamic aspects have been the main points to attract the interest of researchers. Two broad categories of compounds have been the material basis of these observa­ tions: transition-metal polychalcogenides and either condensed-cluster phases or bronze-type compounds. These families are referred to throughout the various chapters of this book, thus illustrating the continuous progress of concepts in this domain and, at the same time, providing the first synthetic and exhaustive view of this group of materials.

This volume presents a sequence of articles which describe the theoretical treat­ ments of investigating the fundamental features in the electronic structures and properties of typical quasi-one-dimensional solids; organic conductor TTF-TCNQ, polyacetylene, metallic and superconducting polymer (SN)n and linear chain chal­ cogenides and halides of transition elements including NbSe3' The aim of this volume is not to present an exhaustive review but rather to touch on a selective class of problems which appear to be fundamental for typical quasi-one-dimensional solids. Thus the topics in this volume are rather confined to the key basic properties of quasi-one-dimensional systems. The quasi-one-dimensional solids are one of the most extensively investigated subjects in current physics, chemistry and materials science. These materials are unique in attracting a broad range of scientists, chemists, experimental and theore­ tical physicists, materials scientists and engineers. In 1954 Frohlich constructed a theory of superconductivity based on a one-dimensional model of moving charge density waves. In 1955 Peierls predicted that anyone-dimensional metal is unstable against the distortion of a periodic lattice so that a metal-nonmetal transition occurs at a certain temperature for a one-dimensional metal. According to these theories a gap is opened at the Fermi surfaces of one-dimensional conductors at low tempera­ tures and the charge density wave is created in connection with the occurrence of the gap.

The close relationship between experimentalists and theorists – whether solid state chemists or physicists – has, in the last few years, inspired much research in the field of materials with quasi one-dimensional structures. This volume, Part I of a two-volume set, reviews the basic theories describing the physical properties of one-dimensional materials including their superconducting characteristics. This description is mainly based on the properties of transition metal trichalcogenides. The novel collective transport mechanism for electronic conduction, exhibited by some of the latter compounds – NbSe3 being considered as the prototype – is surveyed according to a classical theory and a theory including macroscopic quantum effects. In addition, the book contains a description of the properties of non-linear excitations, or solitons, in one-dimensional systems.