The new perovskite PbVO 3 was synthesized under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Its crystal structure (a ) 3.80005(6) Å, c ) 4.6703(1) Å, Z ) 1, S.G. P4mm) contains isolated layers of corner-shared VO 5 pyramids, which are formed instead of octahedra due to a strong tetragonal distortion (c/a ) 1.23). The lead atom is shifted out of the center of the unit cell toward one of two [VO 2 ]-layers due to the influence of the lone pair. This new perovskite exhibits a semiconductor-like F(T) dependence down to 2 K. This behavior can be qualitatively explained by taking into account strong electron correlations in electronic structure calculations.

y r a y and internal conversion electron spectra of the "Se(p, ny)"Br reaction were measured with Ge(Li) and superconducting magnet transporter Si(Li) spectrometers respectively, at 3.5 and 4 MeV bombarding proton energies. The level scheme of "Br, multipolarities of 11 transitions, y-branching ratios, level spin and parity values have been deduced. The energies of "Br levels were calculated on the basis of the parabolic rule derived from the cluster-vibration model. This calculation provided a simple classification of several multiplet states in "Br.