Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.42, No.10, 3183-3186, 2003
NaCl/KCl flux single crystal growth and crystal structure of the new quaternary mixed-metal pnictide: BaCuZn3As3
Synthesis and crystal structure of a new compound, BaCuZn(3)AS(3), are reported. Single crystals of BaCuZn3As3 are synthesized via NaCl/KCl flux reaction in a sealed fused silica ampule. Its elemental composition has been determined to be Ba/Cu/Zn/As = 1.03(4):1(0):2.91(6):2.98(3), suggesting BaCuZn(3)AS(3) as the chemical formula. The structure of BaCuZn3As3 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmcm space group with a = 4.2277(3) Angstrom, b = 12.970(1) Angstrom, and c = 12.011(1) Angstrom at T = 90.7 K, and it exhibits a columnar structure along the a-axis. This structure is isotypic to beta-BaCu4S3 but highly distorted. beta-BaCu4S3 is considered to be a layered structure whereas BaCuZn3As3 is a three-dimensional network.