Powder diffraction study of LiCu2O2 crystals

LiCu2O2 crystals grown by spontaneous crystallization from the fluxed melt were studied by powder X-ray diffraction. The phase analysis shows that the applied growth conditions are suitable for preparation of a single-phase c ompound. The as-grown crystals contain only traces of foreign phases (Li2Cu O2, CuO, Cu2O) typical for preparation of the LiCu2O2 compound. Attempts to anneal or quench the as-grown crystals led to two-phase samples containing LiCu2O2 and LiCu3O3. X-ray powder diffraction pattern of a LiCu2O2 crystal is reported and compared with literature data. The crystal structure is or thorhombic, space group Pnma, in agreement with Literature data. Lattice pa rameters of the studied sample are a = 5.7286(2) Angstrom, b = 2.8588(1) An gstrom, and c = 12.4143(3) Angstrom. Time evolution of a diffraction patter n illustrates a slow increase of the secondary-phases contribution assumed to be due to interaction of the powdered crystal with humid air. A brief su mmary of compounds known in the Li-Cu-O system is included. (C) 2001 Intern ational Centre for Diffraction Data. [S0885-7156(00)00804-6].