Fast suppression of antiferromagnetism in Cu1-xLixO -: art. no. 094510

A high level of hole doping in CuO is realized by Li-substitution and pronounced effect on the structural, transport and magnetic properties of the cupric oxide is reported. The antiferromagnetic transition is reduced from T-N=229 K in the undoped CuO to T-N=91 K in Cu0.84Li0.16O and the activation energy for the transport conduction decreases in an order of magnitude. In the whole substitution range, the T-N's in Cu1-xLixO follow an extraordinary fast and linear decrease of T-N=T-N(0) (1-4.0x). In the heavily doped samples, a superlattice indicating a charge-order is observed by electron diffraction. The investigation of the doping property up to high concentration in this simple transition metal monoxide, which is also a doped Mott insulator, is considered of interest from the viewpoint of the magnetism in diluted antiferromagnet, as well as a reference for the study of the magnetism in cuprates.