Electric-field induced strange metal states and possible high-temperature superconductivity in hydrogenated graphitic fibers

Abstract

In this work, we have studied the effects from increasing the strength of the applied electric field on the charge transport of hydrogenated graphitic fibers. Resistivity measurements were carried out for direct currents in the nA -mA range and for temperatures from 1.9 K to 300 K. The high-temperature non-ohmic voltage-current dependence is well described by the nonlinear random resistor network model applied to systems that are disordered at all scales. The temperature-dependent resistivity shows linear, step-like transitions from insulating to metallic states as well as plateau features. As more current is being sourced, the fiber becomes more conductive and thus the current density goes up. The most interesting features is observed in high electric fields. As the fiber is cooled, the resistivity first decreases linearly with the temperature and then enters a plateau region at a temperature T ∼ 260 − 280 K that is field-independent. These observations on a system made out of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms suggest possible electric-field induced superconductivity with a high critical temperature that was predicted from studying the role of chirality on the origin of life [1].

Superconducting-like and magnetic transitions in oxygen-implanted diamond-like and amorphous carbon films, and in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

“…We also notice that the insulator-metal transition observed at T  250 K is seemingly not affected by B. Notice that we have observed the same insulator-metal transition at T  250 K also in O-implanted carbon fibers [10]. It is known that fullerene C60 buckeyball clusters could be formed as a result of Oion implantation.…”

“…Moreover, moderate disorder actually enhances SC, which can persist up to the critical disorder needed to bring about the Anderson transition. In addition, percolation between grains leads to SC, as we have also found [10]. As for the role of non-magnetic impurities and in contrast to the Anderson theorem, note also that a dirty SC does not always mean weak SC [24].…”

“…Others found that H-C systems with even number of C atoms are small SCs [39] and that metallic nanoclusters such of C60 can be engineered as HTSC materials [40]. We have previously found evidence of the latter in the H-C-N fiber [2]. Here, we have also estimated for the zero-energy gap a very high value for Tc  2360 K (≈ 𝑇 𝐷 ) that is also very close to the one found for the SC network in the animal brain [41].…”

“…The indirect excitons are the driving force for the boson condensation below Tc  50 K. Within the BCS framework, data proves a multi-gap system and show signs for above room-T SC. Analysis of (T) within the framework of flat-energy bands shows perfectly linear evolution above the temperature for exciton condensation, Tc  50 K. Due to the structure of the H-C-N fiber, HTSC and normal nanograins form Josephson normal-SC junctions that can be globally connected by stepping up the applied voltage [2]. The transport properties of Josephson-like normal-SC junctions are determined by the competition between two different coherent reflection processes: a) the standard Andreev reflection at the interface between the SC and the exciton condensate and b) a coherent crossed reflection at the semimetal with the exciton condensate interface that converts electrons from one layer into the other.…”

“…In these materials, there is competition IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1241/1/012054 2 and interplay between magnetic and SC order [7] and electron viscosity can explain the observation of negative differential resistance and SC [8]. Materials having as building blocks C and H atoms are practically small SCs, moreover ferromagnetic (FM), as we have previously found [9,10]. On the other hand, it is well-known the important role played by copper-oxide layers in cuprates.…”