Charge Density Waves and the Hidden Nesting of Purple Bronze K_{0.9}Mo_{6}O_{17}

We introduce the first multiorbital effective tight-binding model to describe the effect of electron-electron interactions in this system. Upon fixing all the effective hopping parameters in the normal state against an ab initio band structure, and with only the overall scale of the interactions as the sole adjustable parameter, we find that a self-consistent Hartree-Fock solution reproduces extremely well the experimental behavior of the charge density wave (CDW) order parameter in the full range 0<T<T_{c}, as well as the precise reciprocal space locations of the partial gap opening and Fermi arc development. The interaction strengths extracted from fitting to the experimental CDW gap are consistent with those derived from an independent Stoner-type analysis.

Interacting nanoscale magnetic superatom cluster arrays in molybdenum oxide bronzes

In this study, we examine several reduced ternary molybdates in the family of yellow rare earth molybdenum bronzes produced by electrochemical synthesis with composition LnMo₁₆O₄₄. These compounds contain an array of electrically isolated but magnetically interacting multi-atom clusters with composition Mo₈O₃₆. These arrayed superatom clusters support a single hole shared among the eight molybdenum atoms in the unit, corresponding to a net spin moment of 1μ_B, and exhibit magnetic exchange between the units via the MoO₄ tetrahedra (containing Mo⁶⁺ ions) and the LnO₈ cubes (containing Ln³⁺ ions). The findings presented here expand on the physics of the unusual collective properties of multi-atom clusters and extend the discussion of such assemblages to the rich structural chemistry of molybdenum bronzes.

Discovery of an Unconventional Charge Density Wave at the Surface of K_{0.9}Mo_{6}O_{17}

We use angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and x-ray scattering to reveal an unusual electronically mediated charge density wave (CDW) in K_{0.9}Mo_{6}O_{17}. Not only does K_{0.9}Mo_{6}O_{17} lack signatures of electron-phonon coupling, but it also hosts an extraordinary surface CDW, with T_{S_CDW}=220  K nearly twice that of the bulk CDW, T_{B_CDW}=115  K. While the bulk CDW has a BCS-like gap of 12 meV, the surface gap is 10 times larger and well in the strong coupling regime. Strong coupling behavior combined with the absence of signatures of strong electron-phonon coupling indicates that the CDW is likely mediated by electronic interactions enhanced by low dimensionality.

Hidden fermi surface nesting and charge density wave instability in low-dimensional metals

The concept of hidden Fermi surface nesting was introduced to explain the general observation that certain low-dimensional metals with several partially filled bands exhibit charge density wave (CDW) instabilities, although their individual Fermi surfaces do not reveal the observed nesting vectors. This concept was explored by considering the Fermi surfaces of the purple bronze AMo(6)O(17) (A = sodium or potassium) and then observing the CDW spatial fluctuations expected from its hidden nesting on the basis of diffuse x-ray scattering experiments. The concept of hidden Fermi surface nesting is essential for understanding the electronic instabilities of low-dimensional metals.

Fabrication of a novel LixMoOy film modified electrode and its application as an electrochemical sensor of iodate

A novel organic gel film modified electrode was simply and conveniently fabricated by casting Li(x)MoOy and polypropylene carbonate (PPC) onto the surface of a gold electrode. The cyclic voltammetry and amperometry studies demonstrated that the Li(x)MoOy film modified electrode has a high stability and a good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of iodate. In amperometry, a good linear relationship between the steady current and the concentration of iodate was obtained in the range from 3x10(-7) to 1x10(-4) mol L-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997 and a detection limit of 1x10(-7) mol L-1.

An Inorganic Double Helix Sheathing Alkali Metal Cations: ANb2P2S12(A=K, Rb, Cs), A Series of Thiophosphates Close to the Metal-Nonmetal Boundary-Chalcogenide Analogues of Transition-Metal Phosphate Bronzes?

The new quaternary niobium thiophosphates ANb(2)P(2)S(12) (A=K, Rb, Cs) have been prepared and characterized. The title compounds were synthesized by reacting Nb metal, A(2)S, P(2)S(5), and S at 600-700 degrees C in evacuated silica tubes. They crystallize as "stuffed" variants of the tetragonal TaPS(6) structure type in the tetragonal space group I$\bar 4$2d with eight formula units per unit cell and lattice constants a=15.923(2) and c=13.238(3) A for CsNb(2)P(2)S(12), a=15.887(3) and c=13.132(3) A for RbNb(2)P(2)S(12), and a=15.850(2) and c=13.119(3) A for KNb(2)P(2)S(12). Their structures are based on double helices formed from interpenetrating, noninteracting spiral chains of binuclear [Nb(2)S(12)] cluster units and [PS(4)] thiophosphate groups. The cavities and tunnels, which are formed by the helical chains, are filled with A(+) ions. Temperature-dependent conductivity studies reveal thermally activated electrical transport behavior. This result is consistent with the observation of a temperature-dependent contribution to the (31)P MAS-NMR shift, suggesting that the delocalized s-electron spin density increases with increasing temperature. These findings are supported by the results of tight-binding band structure calculations which reveal that the unusual electrical transport behavior of ANb(2)P(2)S(12) is a consequence of the structure symmetry. Therefore, CsNb(2)P(2)S(12) may be considered a chalcogenide analogue of metal phosphate bronzes.