Vibrational spectra of copper polysilicate, CuSiO3

TL;DR

This paper presents the first Raman and IR spectra of orthorhombic copper polysilicate CuSiO3, compares its optical phonons with CuGeO3, and analyzes its vibrational modes and magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides the first vibrational spectra for CuSiO3 and offers a mode assignment and comparison with related compounds, revealing differences in bond strength and magnetic response.

Findings

First Raman and IR spectra of CuSiO3 obtained.

Mode assignment for CuSiO3 vibrational modes provided.

Reduced intralayer- to-interlayer bond strength compared to CuGeO3.

Abstract

This is a representation of the first Raman and IR / FIR spectra for orthorhombic copper polysilicate, CuSiO3, measured at room temperature on polycrystalline samples and a comparison of the optical phonons with those observed for the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3. CuSiO3 represents a further example of a quasi-one-dimensional spin = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain system. A mode assignment for the silicate is given. From the analysis of the Davydov doublets a reduced intralayer- to-interlayer bond strength of the silicate in comparison to the germanate is obtained allowing for different magnetic response at low temperature.