Two isostructural
charge-transfer salts
![](/images/gifchars/kappa.gif)
-(ET)
4[M(CN)
6][N(C
2H
5)
4]·2H
2O (ET = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene and M = Co
III, Fe
III) were synthesized, and their crystal structures, Raman spectra,electrical conductivities, electron spin resonance (ESR), and static magnetic susceptibilities as a functionof temperature were studied. At room temperature the salts contain two crystallographically independentET molecules with an average
charge of +0.5. Temperature dependence of the Raman spectra revealedthat a
charge disproportionation gradually occurs upon cooling, because new peaks originated from theET
+ and ET
0 grow gradually. ESR, static magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity data, supported byband structure calculation, give us firm evidence of the phase transition from the Mott insulating phasewith the fluctuation of
charge order into the long-range
charge ordered phase at around 150 K. The
charge ordered ground state consists of (ET
+)
2 dimers and (ET
0)
2 dimers, where the neutral moleculesare found to be bent. The mechanism of this phase transition is discussed on the basis of crystallographic,spectroscopic, and magnetic features at various temperatures.