Metallic State in Rubidium-Loaded Low-Silica X zeolite

Abstract

The ground state of alkali metals when the particle size decreases from bulk to nanometric atomic clusters is inevitably accompanied by quantum effects that can suppress their pristine metallic state. We demonstrate that the metallic nature of rubidium clusters confined and arrayed in the framework of insulating low-silica X zeolite is preserved. The $^{87}$Rb NMR spin-lattice relaxation assigned to rubidium clusters in supercages shows a Korringa behavior from 190~K down to 10~K, which is compatible with a macroscopic observation of low electrical resistivity. The density of states at the Fermi level is found to be enhanced compared to the analogous sodium case, consistent with a Holstein-Hubbard model of alkali-loaded zeolites.