A hexagonal oxynitride (Li0.88_0.12)Nb3.0(O0.13N0.87)4 was synthesized through ammonia nitridation of LiNb3O8. The structural analysis revealed that this oxynitride consists of alternate stacking of octahedral and prismatic layers with different Li/Nb ratios: significant amounts of Li and Nb atoms (Li/Nb = 43/57) coexist in the octahedral layer, while the prismatic site is preferentially occupied by Nb (Li/Nb = 3/97). A metallic behavior was accompanied by an abrupt drop of electrical resistivity at about 3 K. Furthermore, large diamagnetism and specific-heat anomaly were observed below this temperature, suggesting the appearance of superconductivity in the Li-Nb oxynitride.
@article{arxiv.1210.0072,
title = {Crystal structure and superconducting properties of hexagonal lithium-niobium oxynitride},
author = {Teruki Motohashi and Masahiko Ito and Yuji Masubuchi and Makoto Wakeshima and Shinichi Kikkawa},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1210.0072},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
28 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, to appear in Inorganic Chemistry