SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF THE CALCIUM COPPER OXYFLUORIDE, CA2CUO2F2+DELTA

The synthesis of the copper oxyfluoride, Ca2CuO 2F2+δ1, by reaction of Ca2CuO3 with elemental F2 at low temperatures (240°C) is reported. Preliminary structure refinement of powder neutron diffraction data suggests that Ca2CuO2F2+δ is structurally related to Nd2CuO4, rather than to the La2CuO 4 stru...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Almamouri, M, Edwards, P, Greaves, C, Slater, P, Slaski, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 1995
Description
Summary:The synthesis of the copper oxyfluoride, Ca2CuO 2F2+δ1, by reaction of Ca2CuO3 with elemental F2 at low temperatures (240°C) is reported. Preliminary structure refinement of powder neutron diffraction data suggests that Ca2CuO2F2+δ is structurally related to Nd2CuO4, rather than to the La2CuO 4 structure observed for the related copper oxyfluoride, Sr 2CuO2F2+δ. The proposed change in structure type is attributed to the decrease in the size of the alkaline-earth cation. Madelung energy calculations support the view that fluorine insertion causes O/F interchange to give CuO2 planes with the fluorine atoms located between the Ca bilayers. Although the structure could potentially support superconductivity, no evidence for superconductivity has so far been found in this phase down to 4 K.