Photoelectron spectromicroscopy study of metal–insulator transition in NaxWO3

Author-Highlights
• Metal–insulator transition investigation in NaxWO3 by photoelectron spectromicroscopy.
• Experimental verification of the validity of percolation model.
• Spatially resolved spectromicroscopic probing on both insulating and metallic phases.
• Absence of microscopic inhomogeneities in NaxWO3 within the experimental limit.

We have investigated the validity of percolation model, which is quite often invoked to explain the metal–insulator transition in sodium tungsten bronzes, NaxWO3 by photoelectron spectromicroscopy. The spatially resolved direct spectromicroscopic probing on both the insulating and metallic phases of high quality single crystals of NaxWO3 reveals the absence of any microscopic inhomogeneities embedded in the system within the experimental limit. Neither any metallic domains in the insulating host nor any insulating domains in the metallic host have been found to support the validity of percolation model to explain the metal–insulator transition in NaxWO3. The possible origin of insulating phase in NaxWO3 is due to the Anderson localization of all the states near EF. The localization occurs because of the strong disorder arising from random distribution of Na+ ions in the WO3 lattice.