SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY STUDIES OF CONDUCTING MOLYBDENUM OXIDE BRONZES

Compounds of the formula A(x)Mo(z)O(y), known as molybdenum bronzes, display interesting quasilow-dimensional electronic properties such as anisotropic conduction, superconductivity, and charge-density waves (CDW). Scanning tunneling microscopy studies have been performed on Na0.9Mo6O17, a purple bronze, and Rb0.3 MoO3, a blue bronze, demonstrating that they can be imaged in air with near atomic resolution. Surface defects can be created on these bronzes exhibiting varied in-air stabilities. The interpretation of images is discussed with reference to the structures, CDWs, defect creation techniques, and relative defect stabilities.