Polythioantimonate flux synthesis of the low-dimensional compounds A2AuSbS4 (A=Rb, Cs)

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 280; no. 1-2; pp. 71 - 76
• Main Authors: Hanko, Jason A, Kanatzidis, Mercouri G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 23.10.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from melts; zone melting and refining; Halides, chalcogenides and analogous compounds of group vb; Inorganic compounds; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Polythioantimonate flux synthesis; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Polythioantimonate flux synthesis; Gold compounds; Inorganic compounds; Space groups; Cesium compounds; Transition element compounds; Rubidium compounds; Experimental study; Quaternary compounds; Flux synthesis; Crystal growth from melts; Crystal structure; Thioantimonates
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-8388(98)00695-1

The reaction of Au with a molten mixture of A2S/Sb/S (A=Rb, Cs) produced the isostructural quaternary compounds A2AuSbS4. The yellow-brown crystals of Rb2AuSbS4 (I) and yellow crystals of Cs2AuSbS4 (II) are stable in air and water for several days and for over a month for I and II, respectively. The structure of Rb2AuSbS4 crystallizes in the space group Pbcm (#57) and at 23°C a=6.804(3) Å, b=20.127(4) Å, c=7.195(4) Å, V=985(1) Å3, Z=8. Final R/Rw=4.5/6.6%. This structure consists of one-dimensional [AuSbS4]n2n− chains separated by A+ cations. The chains are comprised of Au+ cations linearly coordinated to [SbS4]3− tetrahedra. The compounds were characterized with differential thermal analysis (DTA), far-IR, Raman, and solid-state UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.