Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Electronic Structures of MoO 3 and MoO 2

The geometric and electronic structures of MoO 3 and MoO 2 have been calculated using the generalized gradient approximation to density functional theory. The calculated cross-section weighted densities of states are compared with high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectra. There is very good agreement between the calculated structures and those determined previously by X-ray diffraction and between the computed densities of states and the present photoemission measurements. MoO 2 is shown to be a metallic material, as is found experimentally, but the Fermi level sits in a distinct trough in the density of states. Satellite peaks found in core photoemission spectra of MoO 2 are shown to derive from final state screening effects in this narrow band metallic material.