Title: Novel solid state vacuum quartz encapsulated growth of p-Terphenyl: the parent High Tc Oraganic Superconductor (HTOS),
Abstract: We report an easy and versatile route for the synthesis of the parent phase
of newest superconducting wonder material i.e. p-Terphenyl. Doped p-terphenyl
has recently shown superconductivity with transition temperature as high as
120K. For crystal growth, the commercially available p-Terphenyl powder is
pelletized, encapsulated in evacuated (10-4 Torr) quartz tube and subjected to
high temperature (260C) melt followed by slow cooling at 5C/hour. Simple
temperature controlled heating furnace is used during the process. The obtained
crystal is one piece, shiny and plate like. Single crystal surface XRD (X-ray
Diffraction) showed unidirectional (00l) lines, indicating that the crystal is
grown along c-direction. Powder XRD of the specimen showed that as grown
p-Terphenyl is crystallized in monoclinic structure with space group P21/a
space group, having lattice parameters a = 8.08(2) A, b = 5.62(5) A and c=
13.58(3) A. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures of the crystal showed
clear layered slab like growth without any visible contamination from oxygen.
Characteristic reported Raman active modes related to C-C-C bending, C-H
bending, C-C stretching and C-H stretching vibrations are seen clearly for the
studied p-Terphenyl crystal. The physical properties of crystal are yet
underway. The short letter reports an easy and versatile crystal growth method
for obtaining quality p-terphenyl. The same growth method may probably be
applied to doped p-terphenyl and to subsequently achieve superconductivity to
the tune of as high 120K for the newest superconductivity wonder i.e., High Tc
Oraganic Superconductor (HTOS).