Nonstoichiometry and defects in V2O3

The structural mechanism which accommodates nonstoichiometry in V₂O₃ was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The existence of distinct diffuse scattering was observed as the boundary of the homogeneity range was approached. The analysis of the diffuse scattering indicates the formation of one-dimensional microdomains in the c direction having a structure similar to VO₂. Orientation relations between V₂O₃ and V₃O₅ (which is formed from V₂O₃ by heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere) show that V₃O₅ is formed by redistribution of vanadium ions among the octahedral interstitial sites of common close-packed sublattice consisting of oxygen ions. Possible relations between the present observations and physical properties in nonstoichiometric V₂O_3+x are discussed.