Semiconductivity in the double-zigzag-chain complex oxide RE2Ba2CuPtO8(RE identical to Y, Er, Ho)

Abstract
The temperature dependence of electrical conductance has been measured on single crystals of the newly discovered oxide compound RE2Ba2CuPtO8 (RE identical to Y, Er, Ho). This Pt- containing oxide is orthorhombic and has a characteristic double-zigzag chain of -O2-Pt4+-O2-Cu2+-O2- in columns running parallel to the b axis, which is the growth direction of the rectangular-shaped long-bar single crystals. All these compounds are found to be semiconductors with energy gaps of about 0.2-0.4 eV. They exhibit conductances proportional to exp(-T-12/) rather than the thermally activated exp(-T-1) dependence. Such behaviour is discussed in terms of two models, namely one-dimensional variable-range hopping and the lattice-vibration-induced band-broadening effect.

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