Superconductivity in models of conducting polymers

Abstract

The possibility of superconductivity in polymers is studied in one-dimensional models of interacting electrons coupled to acoustic phonons or intramonomer vibrations. For acoustic phonons, the dimerized state is stable and superconductivity does not occur, in disagreement with recent work by Zimanyi, Kivelson, and Luther. For intramonomer vibrations in an incommensurate (highly doped) system, superconductivity strongly competes with charge-density waves and is favored by high phonon frequencies, well screened electronic interactions, and n-type doping.