Abstract
The polycrystalline powder of (CaLa) (MgMo)$O_6$ has been prepared at $1350^{\circ}C$ in $H_2/H_2O$ and $N_2$ flowing atmosphere. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicates that (CaLa) (MgMo)$O_6$ has a monoclinic perovskite structure with the lattice constants $a_0=b_0=7.901(1){\AA}$, $c =7.875(1){\AA}\;and\;{\gamma}=89^{\circ}$16'(1'), which can be reduced to orthorhombic unit cell, a = 5.551(1) ${\AA}$, b = 5.622(1) ${\AA}$ and c = 7.875(1) ${\AA}$. The infrared spectrum shows two strong absorption bands with their maxima at 590($ν_3$) and 380($ν_4$) cm, which are attributed to $2T_{1u}$ modes indicating the existence of highly charged molybdenum octahedron $MoO_6$ in the crystal lattice. According to the magnetic susceptibility measurement, the compound follows the Curie-Weiss law below room temperature with the effective magnetic moment 1.83(1)$_{{\mu}B}$, which is well consistent with that of spin only value (1.73 $_{\mu}_B$) for $Mo^{5+}$ with $4d^1$-electronic configuration within the limit of experimental error. From the thermogravimetric analysis, it has been confirmed that (CaLa) (MgMo)$O_6$ decomposes gradually into $CaMoO_4,\;MoO_3,\;MgO,\;La_2O_3$ and unidentified phases due to the oxidation of $Mo^{5+}$ to $Mo^{6+}$.