Electronic Properties of Alkali Metals Loaded into Channel-Type Zeolite L

Rb metal was loaded into dehydrated Rb-form zeolite L. The loading density of Rb atoms per unit cell, n , was changed up to 7.1. A resonant optical absorption-reflection band is observed at ≈1.0 eV in all samples. A new reflection band appears at ≈1.7 eV for n > 5. The 1.0 and 1.7 eV bands are assigned to the respective excitations from 1s to 1p and from 1p to 1d quantum states of s-electrons one-dimensionally confined in main-channels with an inside diameter of ≈1 nm. A temperature-dependent semiconducting resistivity is observed at n > 2, and is assigned to the inter-channel polaron hopping between metallic 1s and 1p states. Besides, a nearly metallic resistivity with the low thermal activation energy is observed at n > 5. The metallic conductivity is assigned to three-dimensional s-electrons in the 1d state. The metallic property in Rb-loaded zeolite L is more remarkable than those in K-loaded zeolite L. The difference is explained by the smaller ionization energy of Rb atom, which leads to a shallower one-dimensional confinement potential of main-channel and a smaller polaron effect. (paper)