MAGNETIC-RESONANCE STUDIES OF INTERCALATED, 2-DIMENSIONAL TRANSITION-METAL CHALCOGENOPHOSPHATE LATTICES

Transition metal chalcogenophosphates with the formula M2P2X6 (where M is a divalent transition metal and X = S, Se) form a family of compou nds with layered structures that offer chemically accessible interlame llar spaces and the ability, unique among metal chalcogenides, to inte rcalate cations via an exchange mechanism. Electron paramagnetic reson ance (EPR) spectroscopy was employed to study the exchange of lattice metal ions with intercalate ions and to examine the dynamic behaviour of the solvent-intercalate complex, as well as the coordination geomet ry and oxidation state of various intercalate cations. Both EPR and op tically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy were used to c haracterize lattice vacancies arising from displacement of the metal c ations from their regular positions to interstitial spaces.