A comparison study on Raman scattering properties of α- and β-MnO2

In this comment to a recent paper [Anal. Chim. Acta 585 (2007) 241–245], we report a comparison study on Mn oxide-related compounds with different crystallographic forms, which distinguish between β-MnO2 and α-MnO2 type materials via Raman scattering (RS) spectroscopy. The tetragonal rutile-type β-MnO2 is characterized by a RS band at ∼667 cm−1 of symmetry A1g, whereas the α-MnO2 type materials feature two main RS contributions at about 574 and 634 cm−1, belonging to Ag spectroscopic species of a tetragonal hollandite-type framework. These data represent a clear signature for identifying β-MnO2 and α-MnO2 type materials via RS spectroscopy.