Transport properties of Mg2+ ion doped α-Cu(COOH)2 single crystal

The temperature dependence of dc electrical conductivity (σ) and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) of a new low-dimensional MgxCu(COOH)2 single crystals have been studied in 77–300 K temperature range. The electrical conductivity in this crystal is found to be mainly due to non adiabatic hopping mechanism, and the crystal undergoes a Peierls transition at about 208 K. The TSDC thermograph shows only one peak at 183 K in the pure (i.e. x=0 mol%) crystal which is attributed to the detrapping of holes, while three peaks in the Mg2+ ion doped (i.e. x=1 and 2 mol%) crystals. These three peaks are assigned as one due to ion vacancy (I-V) dipole redistribution, the second due to detrapping of charge carriers (holes), and the third is due to Maxwell–Wagner effect.