Phase separation in the vicinity of the surface of $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br by fast cooling

Abstract

Partial suppression of superconductivity by fast cooling has been observed in the organic superconductor $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br by two means: a marked sample size effect on the magnetic susceptibility and direct imaging of insulating regions by scanning microregion infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Macroscopic insulating regions are found in the vicinity of the crystalline surface after fast cooling, with diameters of 50--100 $μ$m and depths of a few $μ$m. The very large in-plane penetration depth reported to date ($\sim$ 24--100 $μ$m) can be explained by the existence of the insulating regions.