Metal-Insulator Transition in Li_<i>x</i>Zn_1-<i>x</i>V₂O₄

Abstract

Thermoelectric power and electrical resistivity were measured for sintered Li x Zn 1- x V 2 O 4 (0≤ x ≤1). From the temperature and the compositional dependences of the Seebeck coefficient, it is inferred that the metal-insulator transition occurs at 0.3< x <0.4. However, there was no abrupt change in the resistivity. To explain the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient, random distribution of low excited localized states was postulated and the transition seems to be of Mott-Anderson type.