Laser shock induced insulator-metal transition in quasi-one dimensional single-component radical

Laser shock is a relatively new surface treatment for high pressure study[1]. The shock waves can create over one hundred GPa transient shock pressure[2]. Here we found the laser shock induced revisable insulator-metal transition in single-component radical, K-TCNQ[3], where the effect of antiferromagnetic spin ordering causes insulating behavior. The manipulation of spin exchange interaction with external laser shock wave, electric field and magnetic field is accompanied by insulator to metal transition, gigantic magnetoelectric and magneto capacitance effects. One dimensional systems therefore provide a new area to search for conducting magnetoelectric media.

[1] Gao, Huang, et al. Science 2014, 346, 1352.
[2] G. W. Collins, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2001, 87, 165504.
[3] R. Kumai, et al. Science 1999, 284, 1645.