Lattice and charge inhomogeneities in transition metal oxides Original Research Article

Transition metal oxides show an extremely rich variety of ground states which frequently can be modified through doping, pressure, temperature. The conventional understanding of these compounds as e.g. typical ionic systems or typical metallic systems yields incorrect results concerning their dynamical or electronic structures. It is shown here that the intrinsic instability of the doubly negatively charged oxygen ion O2− triggers many of the unusual properties.