Charge ordering and magnetopolarons in Na0.82CoO2

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Oct 15;93(16):167003. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.167003. Epub 2004 Oct 15.

Abstract

Using spectral ellipsometry, we measured the dielectric function of a Na(0.82(2))CoO2 crystal that exhibits bulk antiferromagnetism with T(N)=19.8 K. We identify two prominent transitions as a function of temperature. The first one at 280 K involves marked changes of the electronic and lattice responses that are indicative of charge ordering in the CoO2 layers. The second transition occurs around T(N)=19.8 K and reveals sizable spin-charge coupling. The data are discussed in terms of charge ordering and formation of magnetopolarons due to a charge-induced spin-state transition of adjacent Co3+ ions.