Synthesis of new mixed valence compounds image: Crystal structure of NH4V3O7 and electrical properties of KV3O7

A new mixed valence compound, NH4V3O7, as single crystals, has been synthesized hydrothermally. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group I2/m with lattice parameters image, image, image, image, image, image. The crystal structure determined with image consists of (V3O7)n layers linked by ammonium cations. The layer is built up by replication through symmetry elements of three independent distorted octahedra sharing edges and corners. The distortion of vanadium octahedra tends to vary and the coordination number CN is reasonably selected as equal to 5+1. KV3O7, synthesized by the mild hydrothermal route as a largely pure phase, is isostructural and its semi-conductive character is indicative of the presence of V4+ and V5+ sites. These are mixed valence compounds image, the vanadium localization on three independent crystallographic sites enabling their electric behavior by electron hopping.