Highly resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of copper(II) ion pairs in CuCe oxide

Abstract

A copper–cerium oxide sample prepared with an atomic ratio, Cu : Ce, of 0.01 has been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. A well resolved spectrum of copper(II) ion pairs has been evidenced and the hyperfine structure of the perpendicular components clearly appears. The high resolution can be explained by the presence of two nearly equivalent Cu²⁺ ions separated by an oxygen ion. A correlation in EPR parameters has been found between the signal corresponding to a single Cu²⁺ ion, a precursor of the dimer, and the copper(II) ion pair spectrum.