Phase Transition Behavior of LiCr _0.35 Mn_0.65O₂ under High Pressure by Electrical Conductivity Measurement

The electrical conductivity of powdered LiCr _0.35 Mn_0.65O₂ is measured under high pressure up to 26.22 GPa in the temperature range 300-413 K by using a diamond anvil cell. It is found that both conductivity and activation enthalpy change discontinuously at 5.36 GPa and 21.66 GPa. In the pressure range 1.10-5.36 GPa, pressure increases the activation enthalpy and reduces the carrier scattering, which finally leads to the conductivity increase. In the pressure ranges 6.32-21.66 GPa and 22.60-26.22 GPa, the activation enthalpy decreases with pressure increasing, which has a positive contribution to electrical conductivity increase. Two pressure-induced structural phase transitions are found by in-situ x-ray diffraction under high pressure, which results in the discontinuous changes of conductivity and activation enthalpy.