Electrochemical intercalation of oxygen into La2CuO4 using anhydrous organic electrolytic media

The electrochemical intercalation of oxygen into La2CuO4 has been carried o ut for the first time in anhydrous organic-inorganic media such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/0.1 M NaClO4 or nBu(4)NBF(4). The electrochemical reactio n needs the presence of an oxygen source (KO2) even with potential oxidisin g supporting electrolytes (NaClO4). The anodic polarisation is performed at room temperature, with the aim of replacing the usual efficient but someti mes aggressive alkaline media. This so-called chimie douce reaction gave ri se to noteworthy materials having compositions up to La2CuO4.08 for which s uperconducting behaviour was observed below 42 K. The physical characterist ics of the material (XRD, chemical composition, electronic properties) befo re and after controlled anodic polarisation are reported. The processes are time dependent and the oxygen stoichiometry could be controlled through re action times.