X-ray diffraction analysis of LiCu2O2 crystals with additives of silver atoms

Abstract

Silver-containing LiCu2O2 crystals up to 4 × 8 × 8 mm in size were grown by the crystallization of 80(1-x)CuO · 20xAgNO3 · 20Li2CO3 (0 ≤ х ≤ 0.5) mixture melt. According to the X-ray spectral and Rietveld X-ray diffraction data, the maximum amount of silver incorporated in the LiCu2O2 structure is about 4 at % relative to the copper content. It was established that silver atoms occupy statistically crystallographic positions of lithium atoms. The incorporation of silver atoms is accompanied by a noticeable increase in parameter с of the LiCu2O2 rhombic unit cell, a slight increase in parameter а, and a slight decrease in parameter b.