Investigation of cation-deficient quaternary thiospinels: single crystal study of Ag1.4Cr1.47Sn2.53S8

Single crystals of the quaternary thiospinel Ag1.41(1)Cr1.47(5)Sn2.52(5)S8 have been obtained by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elemental metals and sulfur at 750 °C. Structural analysis by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the above phase crystallizes in the Fd3¯m space group with a = 10.4142(3) Å (R1 = 0.0156 and wR2 = 0.0416). The Ag-deficiency has been confirmed by solving the structures of crystals prepared in different batches and was observed to vary slightly between crystals. Magnetic studies on a monophasic powder sample with a nominal composition of Ag1.63CrSn3S8 indicates anti-ferromagnetic ordering at low temperature. The high temperature susceptibility leads to a magnetic moment of 3.45 B.M. suggesting that chromium exists predominantly in a trivalent state.