Correlations betweenT c andn s/m * (carrier density/ effective mass) in high-T c and organic superconductors

We update our muon spin relaxation studies of the magnetic field penetration depth which show the correlations betweenT _c and the relaxation rate σ αn _s/m ^* (carrier density/effective mass) of hole-doped high-T _c cuprate superconductors (La₂, Sr₃)CuO₄, YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (Y_1−xPr_x)Ba₂Cu₃O₇, and other double and triple layer systems. These studies are extended to the organic superconductor (BEDT-TTF)₂Cu(NCS)₂.     

Ferroelasticity in BiVO4

A transition in BiVO₄ crystals has been observed at 255°C. Optical and X-ray studies indicate that this is a ferroelastic transition of the type 4/m F2/m.     

Partial charge ordering in the mixed-valent compound

Crystals of the mixed-valent compound were grown from a flux. The room temperature conductivity of a crystal was 3 S/cm but decreased smoothly with decreasing temperature to 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 25 K. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate a localized moment for Rh⁴⁺. A Seebeck coefficient at 200 K of +280 μV/K further confirms that this compound is a semiconductor rather than a metal with a partially filled 4d t_2g band. A structure refinement based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data obtained at 173 and 296 K provided Rh–O distances sufficiently accurate to indicate the nature of the charge ordering between Rh³⁺ and Rh⁴⁺. The large Seebeck coefficient coupled with the high electrical conductivity indicates that this may be a promising low-temperature thermoelectric material.     

New oxides showing an intense blue color based on Mn3+ in trigonal-bipyramidal coordination

Substitution of Mn(3+) into the trigonal-bipyramidal sites of oxides with YbFe(2)O(4)-related structures produces an intense blue color because of an allowed d-d transition. This has been demonstrated utilizing a variety of hosts including ScAlMgO(4), ScGaMgO(4), LuGaMgO(4), ScGaZnO(4), LuGaZnO(4), and LuGaO(3)(ZnO)(2). The hue of the blue color can be controlled by the choice of the host.