Growth, Thermogravimetric Characterization, and Electrical Properties of LiCu₃O₃ Single Crystals

: Platelike LiCu₃O₃ single crystals up to 2 × 8 × 8 mm in dimensions have been grown by slowly cooling (1 – x)Li₂O ∙ xCuO (x = 0.88–0.92) melts and characterized by thermogravimetry and electrical measurements. We have determined the temperature stability range of LiCu₃O₃ (750 to ~1000°C) and measured the dc and ac (0.1–100 kHz) resistivity of the crystals as a function of temperature in the temperature range 10–295 K. The results demonstrate that, in the temperature range 45–295 K, the conduction mechanism in LiCu₃O₃ crystals is hopping between nearest neighbors with the participation of small polarons and that the electrical conductivity of the crystals is a nonlinear function of electric field.