Temperature dependence of the structural parameters of the host lattice in blue bronze K0.3MoO3

Structural parameters of the host lattice in quasi-one-dimensional blue bronze K0.3MoO3 were measured in the range 10-300 K. It is found that the temperature dependence of the unit cell parameters a,b,c, cell volume V, and angle beta, and parameters a([102]) and d([201]) all present noticeable unusual changes in the slope near about 178 and 50 K, respectively. The change of the structural parameters near 178 K is in relation to the Peierls phase transition, while the second change near about 50 K may be an indication of some subtle variations in structures at 50 K.