Molten flux synthesis, single crystal X-ray structure and ion-exchange properties of the first polythiogallate, CsGaS3

Abstract

A new polythiogallate, CsGaS₃, has been synthesized using molten flux of caesium polysulfide, and structurally characterized, by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, as possessing one-dimensional GaS₃⁻ chains, built from GaS₄ tetrahedra. Cs⁺ ions undergo facile ion-exchange, at room temperature, with Rb⁺, NH₄⁺, Me₄N⁺ and alkaline earth and a few divalent first row transition metal ions in aqueous solution. AGaS₃ (A = Cs, Rb, NH₄, Me₄N) compounds are, as determined from their diffuse reflectance spectra, insulators.