Effects of lithium oxide on the electrical properties of CuO at low temperatures

We present an investigation of the influence of four dopant lithium concentrations on the electrical properties of CuO. X-ray measurements have revealed a single phase formed up to 4.2 at. % of Li, and a second phase formed, Li₂CuO₂, in the case of 10.5 at. % of Li concentration. The log(ρ/T) vs 1/Tdata are better represented by two straight lines than by one and show an initial strong decrease of the conduction activation energies for small contents of Li (<1.7 at. %), which becomes weak for larger contents. The change in slope observed in the resistivity measurements as a function of temperature has also been investigated by calorimetric measurements, revealing a specific heat anomaly which can be associated with the antiferromagnetic order transition.