What is jahn teller distortion?

Jahn-Teller distortion is a phenomenon in which molecules or complexes with degenerate electronic states undergo a geometrical distortion to lower their energy, breaking the degeneracy. This distortion occurs when a molecule or complex is in a high-energy, degenerate electronic state, and the distortion allows the molecule to stabilize by lowering its energy.

The Jahn-Teller effect was first proposed by physicists Hermann Arthur Jahn and Edward Teller in 1937, and has since been observed in a wide range of chemical systems, particularly in transition metal complexes. The distortion typically results in a deviation from the ideal symmetric geometry of the molecule or complex.

The Jahn-Teller distortion can have significant effects on the physical and chemical properties of the molecule or complex, such as changing its magnetic properties, altering its reactivity, or affecting its optical properties. Understanding and controlling Jahn-Teller distortion is important in many areas of chemistry, physics, and materials science.