INVESTIGATION OF INTERCALATION OF COPPER DOPED TITANIUM DISELENIDE

The compound CuxTiSe2 exhibits superconducting behavior due to Cu intercalated into the TiSe2 van der Waals gap. It has been previously shown that Cu can be intercalated into the TiSe2 compounds up to amounts of x = 0.1, with an ideal amount of x = 0.08 for superconductivity. The purpose of this investigation is to intercalate more Cu than previously achieved. An annealing study was carried out by sequentially heating the precursors in 100°C increments on two samples with an aim of x = 0.08 and x = 0.2. The in-plane x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectivity patterns of the Cu0.20TiSe2 target sample indicate that all of the Cu did not intercalate. Rather, CuSe2 was formed. The data collected for this sample could also indicate the Cu was substituted rather than intercalated. The 8% Cu sample appeared to be fully intercalated into the TiSe2 based on the in-plane x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectivity patterns