On a new family of titanium oxides and the nature of slightly-reduced rutile

An electron microscope investigation of slightly reduced rutile (TiOx x= 1·986, 1·94) suggests the existence of a new family of ordered phases, probably TinO 2n-1 (n=15,…∼36), derived from rutile by crystallographic shear on planes parallel to {132}. Still smaller degrees of reduction (x= 1·995) introduce disordered shear planes parallel to {132} and {101}. Some comments on the mechanism of reduction are also included.