| Abstract
| - The novel ternary reduced molybdenum oxide Mn∼2.4Mo6O9 has been synthesized by solid-state reaction at 1400°C for 96 h in sealed molybdenum crucibles. Electron diffraction studies showed that Mn∼2.4Mo6O9 presents acomplex crystal structure with a 3d incommensurate modulation. The average crystal structure was determined ona single-crystal by X-ray diffraction in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with the following lattice parameters: a = 16.4824(2) Å, b = 2.8273(2) Å, c = 17.3283(2) Å, Z = 4. The Mo network consists of empty twin chains oftrans-edge-sharing octahedra that occur for the first time in a solid-state compound. The Mo−Mo distances withinthe chains range from 2.62 to 2.92 Å, and the Mo−O distances from 1.99 to 2.17 Å as usually observed in thereduced molybdenum oxides. Single-crystal resistivity measurements show that Mn∼2.4Mo6O9 is metallic between4.2 and 300 K. The magnetic susceptibility data indicate paramagnetic behavior due to the Mn2+ moment at hightemperatures with a weak ferromagnetic behavior below 80 K.
- The synthesis, electron diffraction study, crystal structure, and magnetic and electrical properties of the novel molybdate Mn2.4Mo6O9 are reported. Mn2.4Mo6O9 is one of the rare compounds having a 3d incommensurate modulation. Its crystal structure presents empty twin chains of trans-edge-sharing octahedra for the first time in a solid-state compound containing transition-metal clusters. Mn2.4Mo6O9 is metallic and presents a weak ferromagnetism behavior below 150 K.
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