ESR study of lithium incorporation by V2O5 single crystals

Lithium has been chemically and electrochemically incorporated into V₂O₅ single crystals. The ESR spectra of these room temperature bronzes are characterized by the same g tensor as α-Li_xV₂O₅ high temperature bronzes. This suggests that V₂O₅ acts as a three-dimensional framework host and that lithium is inserted into the channels of the orthorhombic structure. However, Li⁺ ions are not randomly distributed into the lattice. A clustering of the paramagnetic centers surrounding these ions is observed, giving an exchange narrowed ESR signal. The usual 29 hyperfine line ESR spectrum of high temperature α-Li_xV₂O₅ is again observed after heating the crystal above 300°C showing that these new bronzes convert to the previously reported Li_xV₂O₅ bronzes.