Robust superconductivity near constant temperature in rubidium-doped C$_{60}$

Abstract

To establish the doping-dependent phase diagram in alkali-metal doped C$_{60}$, we synthesize Rb-doped C$_{60}$ samples with different stoichiometries by using the improved wet-chemistry technique. The doping levels determined from the Raman scattering spectra often show the appearance of three electrons corresponding to the band filling of three for the synthesized compounds no matter matter what dopants are used. The multiple phase coexistence with the unique Rb$_{3}$C$_{60}$ is identified from the refined x-ray diffraction patterns. The phase fraction of Rb$_{3}$C$_{60}$ is found to behave with the doping in a similar manor as the superconducting shielding fraction. These rigorously established correlations among the superconducting transition temperature along with the structural and phonon vibrational properties allow us to single out Rb$_{3}$C$_{60}$ as the only superconducting phase with the nearly constant transition temperature regardless the doping level. These findings provide an experimental constraint on the theory developments for the superconductivity in fullerides.