Abstract
The metal-insulator transition occurring in hollandite has been studied by means of neutron and x-ray diffraction as well as by thermodynamic and electron-spin resonance measurements. The complete analysis of the crystal structure in the distorted phase allows us to identify dimerization as the main distortion element in insulating . At low-temperature, half of the V chains are dimerized perfectly explaining the suppression of magnetic susceptibility due to the formation of spin singlets. The dimerization is accompanied by the segregation of charges into chains.
- Received 14 December 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.027201
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