Abstract

ANDRADE, Margareth et al. Microstructure and metal-insulator transition in single crystalline KMo₄O₆. Mat. Res. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.6, pp. 998-1002.  Epub Oct 11, 2012. ISSN 1516-1439.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-14392012005000132.

High quality KMo₄O₆ single crystals with tetragonal structure (space group P4/mbm) have been prepared by fused salt electrolysis. The crystals were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry, electrical resistivity, and magnetization measurements. X-ray powder diffraction patterns and SEM have given some information on the growth of single crystals. Electrical resistivity as a function of temperature shows that the KMo₄O₆ compound is a bad metal with resistivity change of approximately 30% in the temperature range from 2 to 300K. A metal-insulator transition (MIT), observed at approximately 110K, has been also confirmed for this material. Magnetization as a function of temperature agrees with previous report, however a magnetic ordering has been observed in M(H) curves in the whole temperature range.

Keywords : KMo₄O₆; single crystal; low-dimensional system.