Facile surfactant-thermal syntheses and characterization of quaternary copper thioantimonates(III) ACu2SbS3 (A = K, Rb, Cs)

• Three quaternary thioantimonates(III) ACu2SbS3 (A = K, Rb, Cs) have been prepared through the surfactant-thermal method.
• Crystal structures are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction which feature a two-dimensional layered structure.
• Both experimental and theoretical studies confirm ACu2SbS3 (A = K, Rb, Cs) are semiconductors with narrow band gaps.
• Surfactant-thermal method could offer exciting opportunities for exploring new multinary chalcogenides.

Three new quaternary thioantimonates(III) ACu2SbS3 (A = K, Rb, Cs) have been prepared through the surfactant-thermal method. X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis reveals that these three compounds are isostructural and feature a two-dimensional layered structure. Both experimental and theoretical studies confirm they are semiconductors with narrow band gaps. Our results clearly indicated that surfactants, as reaction media, could offer exciting opportunities for exploring novel multinary chalcogenides with diverse crystal structures and interesting physical properties.

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