Electronic and magnetic properties of the Ti$_5$O$_9$ Magn\'eli phase

Abstract

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Ti$_5$O$_9$ have been studied by \textit{ab initio} methods in low-, intermediate- and high-temperature phases. We have found the charge and orbital order in all three phases to be non-stable, and the formation of Ti$^{3+}$-Ti$^{3+}$ bipolaronic states less likely as compared to Ti$_4$O$_7$. Several quasidegenerate magnetic configurations were calculated to have different width of the band gap, suggesting that the reordering of the unpaired spins at Ti$^{3+}$ ions might at least partially be responsible for the changes in conductivity of this material.