Quantum Beam Center, National Institute for Materials Science
○Yuichi Michiue

Na-hollandite is a candidate for the one-dimensional Na ion conductor, as the frequency-independent conduction was observed by impedance spectroscopy measurements [1]. In the present study, hollandite structures were obtained in the pseudobinary system NaCrO₂-TiO₂ (i.e. Na_xCr_xTi_8-xO₁₆) of the composition range 1.7=<x<=2.0 at 1350 C. The symmetry of the samples at room temperature was tetragonal for x=1.7 and 1.75, and monoclinic for x=1.8 and above. Furthermore, single crystals of monoclinic hollandite Na₂Cr₂Ti₆O₁₆ were grown and the structure refinement has been carried out using an X-ray diffraction technique. The space group was I2/m and cell parameters were a=10.2385(11), b=2.9559(9), c=9.9097(11)Å, and beta=90.545(9). There are three characteristics in Na₂Cr₂Ti₆O₁₆ related to tetragonal-monoclinic transformation of hollandite structures; (i) distortion of the framework structure, (ii) deformation of the Na ion distribution in the tunnel, and (iii) different Cr/Ti ratios between the two metal sites in the framework structure. The first one is common in hollandite structures showing the tetragonal-monoclinic transformation. The second one was observed in the low-temperature phase of Na_xCr_xTi_8-xO₁₆ (x=1.7) [2] and more prominent in Na₂Cr₂Ti₆O₁₆. The third one was first pointed out in this study.
[1] S. Yoshikado, Y. Michiue, Y. Onoda, and M. Watanabe, Solid State Ionics 136/137, 371-374 (2000).
[2] Y. Michiue, A. Sato, and M. Watanabe, J. Solid State Chem. 145, 182-185 (1999).