Physical properties of titanates, semiconductors and nickelates derived from ionization energy theory

Abstract Ionization energy theory is exploited to predict the changes to atomic polarizability for both anions and cations, the polarization in doped titanates and the energy gap in III–V and II–VI semiconductors. We then extend the above analysis to discuss the physics of metallic and superconducting phases in the recently discovered superconducting nickelates. In doing so, we are able to prove the existence of Ni2+ cations and oxygen vacancy in the metallic normal state of nickelates. We find that the normal state resistivity of the nickelates follows exactly as predicted by the ionization energy theory. Quantitative estimates are also given for the concentrations of Ni2+ and oxygen vacancy in superconducting nickelates.