Bulk Properties and Neutron Scattering studies of LiVO2

LiVO2 crystallizes in the space group R-3m with V$^{3+}$ (S = 1,$t_{2g}^2 )$ ions forming a two-dimensional triangular lattice. Magnetically, the system changes from a high temperature Curie-Weiss paramagnetic state to a low-temperature non-magnetic state at T $\sim $ 500 K. It has been proposed [1] that this phase transition is associated with a peculiar frustration-related orbital ordering resulting in trimers of V$^{3+}$ ions forming a spin-singlet ground state. Single crystals of LiVO2 with typical size approximately 3 $\times $ 2 $\times $ 0.1 mm$^{3}$ have been grown by the flux method. These crystals have been studied by electron diffraction, susceptibility, and specific heat measurements. The results are largely consistent with the V$^{3+}$ trimer model picture. We also report recent powder and single crystal inelastic neutron scattering studies of the magnetic excitations in LiVO$_{2}$. [1] H. F. Pen \textit{et al}, Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{78} (1997) 1323.