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Title: First-principles investigation of the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect for octahedrally coordinated transition-metal ions

Journal Article · · Physical Review B

Fundamental aspects of the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect are investigated using density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation. LiNiO{sub 2}, LiMnO{sub 2}, and LiCuO{sub 2} are chosen as candidate materials as they possess small, intermediate, and large cooperative Jahn-Teller distortions, respectively. The cooperative distortion is decomposed into the symmetrized-strain modes and k=0 optical phonons, revealing that only the E{sub g} and A{sub 1g} strain modes and E{sub g} and A{sub 1g} k=0 optical-phonon modes participate in the cooperative distortion. The first-principles results are then used to find values for the cooperative Jahn-Teller stabilization energy and the electron-strain and electron-phonon coupling. It is found that the dominant source of anisotropy arises from the third-order elastic contributions, rather than second-order vibronic contributions. Additionally, the importance of higher-order elastic coupling between the E{sub g} and A{sub 1g} modes is identified, which effectively causes expansion of A{sub 1g}-type modes and allows for a larger E{sub g} distortion. Finally, the strain anisotropy induced by the antiferromagnetically ordered states is shown to cause a significant difference in the cooperative Jahn-Teller stabilization energy for the different orientations of the cooperative distortion.

Sponsoring Organization:
(US)
OSTI ID:
40203496
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Vol. 63, Issue 22; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.224304; Othernumber: PRBMDO000063000022224304000001; 006122PRB; PBD: 1 Jun 2001; ISSN 0163-1829
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English