Crystal structures and electronic properties of UTixNb3-xO10 (x=0,1/3,1) and of the intercalation compound Li0.9UTiNb2O10

Abstract

Complete crystal structures of the related phases UTi _x Nb _3-x O ₁₀ (x=0,1/3,1) and of the intercalation compound Li _0.9 UTiNb ₂ O ₁₀ have been determined by Rietveld analysis of room-temperature powder neutron diffraction data. The new structural data combined with magnetic susceptibility measurements made in the range 5<T/K<300 support a common electronic formulation of the compounds as Li ^I _y U ^V _{1+y -x} U ^VI _x-y Ti ^IV _x Nb ^V _3-x O ₁₀ ( y≤x≤1) with U ^V (f ¹ ) being the only paramagnetic species present.