Materials Chemistry and Physics, Vol.82, No.3, 672-678, 2003
Solid state studies on K2Ti6-xNb,Fe2O16 (x=0 and 1) and lithium insertion into K2Ti6M2O16 W=Cr, Fe and Ga) and K2Ti5NbFe2O16 hollandite type phases
A new niobium-substituted hollandite KiTi(5)NbFe(2)O(16) has been synthesised for the first time. The compound is crystallised in tetragonal structure. A two to three orders change in electrical resistivity is observed with temperature as compared to the parent phase K2Ti6Fe2O16. The niobium-substituted phase shows antiferromagnetic ordering with T-N = 37 K at a field of 0.1 T and the antiferromagnetic ordering disappears at higher field (0.2 T) indicating field induced magnetic behaviour. The Mossbauer spectrum of K2Ti5NbFe2O16 shows majority of the Fe ions are 3+ oxidation state (96%). For the first time, we have intercalated lithium into K2Ti6M2O16 (M = Cr, Fe and Ga) and K2Ti5NbFe2O16 hollandite type phases using n-butyllithium in hexane. The estimated lithium content for all the phases are in the range 1.7-2.7 mol per formula unit. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.