Preparation and crystal structure analysis and physical properties of (LaO)CuTe

A single phase of (LaO)CuTe has been synthesized by the solid-state reaction. The lattice constants, a and c, refined by Rietveld analysis are 0.41815 and 0.93417 nm, respectively. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity shows a metallic behavior above 150 K and changes to a semiconductive behavior below that temperature. The value of the electronic specific heat coefficient estimated from the T-2 dependence of the C/T was almost zero. The magnetic susceptibility shows diamagnetism which is attributed to the core diamagnetism. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.