Anisotropy and Low-Frequency Dynamics of Charge Transport in Single-Domain Crystals of LiCu 2O 2 at Low-Temperatures and Sound Frequencies

For the first time, the single-domain (without twinning) crystals of LiCu 2O 2 were used to measure anisotropy of DC and AC conductivities along the principal crystal axes and low-frequency dynamics of charge transport in the temperature (4.2-295 K) and frequency (25-105 Hz) ranges. The temperature, frequency and field properties of the DC and AC conductivities reflect the strong localization of charge carriers as result of a local lattice distortion due to the structural, compositional (extra oxygen content) defects and particularly electrical and magnetic polarization. Therefore the conductivity is by hopping transport between localized states near the Fermi level and its character (activated or variable-range hopping) depends on the temperature range and on relative direction to the crystal axes. The analysis of experimental data allows us to draw conclusions about the electronic energy structure near the Fermi level, about the anisotropic properties, low-frequency dynamics and mechanisms of charge transport.

anisotropy of conduction, small polaron, Debye type relaxation, hopping, strong localization