Charge states of cobalt ions in nanostructured lithium cobaltite: X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectra

The charge states of ions in nanostructured lithium cobaltite prepared by severe plastic deformation under pressure have been determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as calculations of the atomic multiplets with allowance for the charge transfer. It has been found that small deformations (pressures up to 5 GPa and angles of anvil rotation up to 30°) lead to the generation of lithium vacancies in the bulk of the nanostructured material and the formation of the Li2O phase on the surface. The charge compensation occurs at the expense of holes in oxygen 2p states; the electronic configuration of cobalt ions is 3d6L, where L is a hole in oxygen 2p states. It has been shown that nanostructured lithium cobaltite belongs to the class of insulators with a negative charge transfer energy. An increase in the degree of deformation of lithium cobaltite (at a pressure up to 8 GPa) leads to the formation of Co2+ ions (with the electronic configuration 3d7).