KCuF3

KCuF3, also known as potassium copper(II) fluoride, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KCuF3. It typically appears as a green or blue crystalline solid and is of interest primarily in research related to magnetic and electronic properties of transition metal fluorides.

This compound crystallizes in the perovskite structure, where potassium ions occupy the A-site and CuF6 octahedra occupy the B-site in the lattice. The copper ion in KCuF3 is in the +2 oxidation state, with a d9 electron configuration, which gives rise to its magnetic properties. The fluoride ions serve as ligands, coordinating the copper ions and influencing the overall magnetic interactions.

KCuF3 is notable for its strong antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperatures, owing to superexchange interactions mediated through fluoride ions. It exhibits Jahn-Teller distortions due to the electronic configuration of Cu2+, which leads to anisotropic structural distortions within the crystal lattice. These features make KCuF3 a valuable model system for studying orbital ordering, magnetism, and electron correlation effects in transition metal compounds.

Synthesizing KCuF3 generally involves combining potassium fluoride (KF) and copper(II) fluoride (CuF2) under controlled conditions. It has applications in condensed matter physics research, particularly in the study of low-dimensional magnetic systems and phenomena related to quantum magnetism.

Due to its sensitivity to moisture and air, handling and storage require precautions to prevent decomposition or alteration of its properties. KCuF3 remains an important subject of scientific investigation owing to its unique combination of structural, magnetic, and electronic characteristics.