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Title: High-resolution neutron diffraction study of CuNCN: New evidence of structure anomalies at low temperature

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4840555· OSTI ID:22253806
; ;  [1];  [1]
  1. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen (Germany)

Copper carbodiimide (CuNCN) is the nitrogen-containing analogue of cupric oxide. Based on high-resolution neutron-diffraction data, CuNCN's lattice parameters are derived as a function of the temperature. In accordance with a recent synchrotron study, a clear trend in the cell parameter a is observed accompanying the changing magnetic behavior. With decreasing temperature, a slowly decreases to a minimum at ∼100 K after which it rises again. The same trend—albeit more pronounced—is observed for the c lattice parameter at ∼35 K. The herein presented neutron powder-diffraction data also support the conjectured sequence of transitions from the high-temperature one-dimensional resonating valence-bond (RVB) state to a transient two-dimensional RVB state and eventually, at lowest temperatures, into another two-dimensional RVB state, presumably the ground state.

OSTI ID:
22253806
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 139, Issue 22; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English