Materials Research Bulletin, Vol.29, No.3, 233-238, 1994
Crystal-Growth and Characterization of a Niobium Phosphate Bronze
Phosphate bronzes are extensively studied for their particular electron transport properties, involving often high anisotropy and complex charge density wave phenomenon. In this respect the niobium phosphate bronzes, that have recently been discovered are potential materials. We report here on the growth of single crystals of the phosphate bronze K7Nb14P9O60 and on the corresponding electron transport properties. The semiconducting behaviour of this material and the anisotropy are interpreted on the basis of its crystal structure, taking into consideration the mixed valence of niobium Nb(V)-Nb(IV).