Crystal structure of La2Mo2O9 single crystals doped with bismuth

Precision X-ray diffraction studies of La2-xBixMo2O9 (x = 0.04, 0.06, and 0.18) single crystals are performed. It is found that in the compounds doped with bismuth, analogously with the structure of the metastable βms phase of pure La2Mo2O9 (LM), the La, Mo1, and O1 atoms deviate from the threefold axis on which they are located in the high-temperature β phase. It is shown that bismuth atoms substitute for part of lanthanum atoms and occupy a position at the threefold axis in the neighborhood of the split lanthanum position. The implantation of bismuth atoms in the LM structure results in the return of a part of the molybdenum atoms to the position at the threefold axis. The occupancy of this position is equal to the occupancy of the bismuth atomic position.