Metallic Conduction in Hexagonal Potassium Cobalt Oxide KCo_2O_4

Abstract

Hexagonal potassium cobalt oxide KCo₂O₄, with lattice parameters of a=2.846Å and c=12.417Å, has been prepared using KCO₃ and Co₃O₄ as starting materials. The specimens show metallic conduction, with almost linear decrease in the resistivity, in the order of 10^-2, Ω · cm, down to 12K. The magnetic susceptibility is of the order of 10^-6, emu/g and shows paramagnetic behavior.