Phase transition in alkali-electro-sodalite studied by ESR

Abstract

AES (A = Na, K) is a Mott insulator at room temperature consisting of a bcc sub-lattice of F-centers, supported by a zeolite-like framework. Each sodalite cage contains an s-like electron trapped by a spherical potential due to four tetrahedrally arranged alkali cations. On cooling, SES and KES undergo an AF transition at about 50 and 70 K respectively, providing the first example of an s-electron antiferromagnet. ESR linewidth, lineshape and g-shift were measured, which shows unique feature of these s-electron lattices. The linewidth is narrow above TN due to exchange narrowing and rapidly broadens below TN. Under high pressures AES could be metal.