9404755 Zettl The electronic and thermal properties of fullerene-based materials, pure and alkali-doped carbon-60 and carbon-70, will be examined using various transport, structural, mechanical and tunneling measurements. Electron phonon coupling in the normal and superconducting states will be investigated through transport, tunneling, and isotopic replacement on both the alkali and carbon sites. Carrier concentration and possible correlation-induced localization effects will be explored using Hall measurements. High pressures will be applied to probe transport properties and superconductivity as a function of lattice constants and variable density of states. % % % % The properties of novel carbon materials formed from so called fullerenes will be explored using a variety of probes, including transport of electricity and heat through the materials at atmospheric and high pressures. The mechanical strength of the structures will be determined using elasticity measurements. Atoms of different masses (different isotopes) will be introduced in the structures to help understand the interactions between the electrons and the vibrations of the atoms. This interaction may be responsible for some of the materials being superconducting (zero electrical resistance). ***
