THE OXIDATION-STATE OF CERIUM IN CE2MOO6

Synchrotron radiation was used to determine the oxidation state of cer ium in Ce2MoO6 through Ce L-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS ). The results from this direct spectroscopic investigation reveal tha t, to the level of sensitivity of the technique, cerium is trivalent i n Ce2MoO6. Magnetic susceptibility data over the temperature range 10- 300 K do not follow the Curie Law and, therefore, cannot be used to su pport any assignment of valence. The possible origins of the unique st ructure and colour of the RE = Ce analogue of the RE2MoO6 series are d iscussed.