CHARGE-DENSITY-WAVE PROPERTIES OF MOLYBDENUM BRONZES

The physical properties of the low dimensional molybdenum bronzes showing charge density wave (CDW) instabilities are reviewed. The mechanisms of the Peierls transition, CDW and spin density wave (SDW) instabilities are first introduced. The properties of the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) blue bronze, A0.30MoO3, including non linear transport due to the depinning of the incommensurate CDW, are described. The transport properties and the effect of pressure on the superconducting properties of the quasi-1D Li purple bronze Li0.9Mo6O17 are reported. Finally, one presents the properties of the commensurate CDW state of the quasi-2D purple bronze KMo6O17, especially under high magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure.