Incommensurate charge order phase in Fe2OBO3 due to geometrical frustration

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Dec 21;99(25):256402. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.256402. Epub 2007 Dec 19.

Abstract

The temperature dependence of charge order in Fe2OBO3 was investigated by resistivity and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray scattering, revealing an intermediate phase between room temperature and 340 K, characterized by coexisting mobile and immobile carriers, and by incommensurate superstructure modulations with temperature-dependent propagation vector (1/2, 0, tau). The incommensurate modulations arise from specific antiphase boundaries with low energy cost due to geometrical charge frustration.