Absence of charge order in the dimerized \kappa-phase BEDT-TTF salts

Abstract

Utilizing infrared vibrational spectroscopy we have investigated dimerized two-dimensional organic salts in order to search for possible charge redistribution that might cause electronic dipoles and ferroelectricity: the quantum spin liquid \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu2(CN)3, the antiferromagnetic Mott insulator \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2$Cu[N(CN)2]Cl, and the superconductor \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2$Cu[N(CN)2]Br. None of them exhibit any indication of charge disproportionation upon cooling down to low temperatures. No modification in the charge distribution is observed around T = 6 K where a low-temperature anomaly has been reported for the spin-liquid \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2$Cu2(CN)3. In this compound the in-plane optical response and vibrational coupling are rather anisotropic, indicating that the tilt of the BEDT-TTF molecules in c-direction and their coupling to the anion layers has to be considered in the explanation of the electromagnetic properties.