Synthesis and crystal structure of alkali metal uranium sulfides, Li2US3 and Na2US3

New mixed uranium sulfides, A2US3 (A=Li,Na), in which uranium is in a tetravalent state, have been synthesized. In the disordered state, the compounds are written as A(A1/3,U2/3)S2 which have a hexagonal (R anti 3m) structure the same as the lanthanide homologue, ALnS2 (Ln=trivalent lanthanides). In the ordered state, the compounds take on a monoclinic (C2/m) structure in which the atom arrangement is very close to the above hexagonal structure. The partial ordering is realized by the coexistence of the two phases. The lattice parameters of hexagonal Li2US3 are a=3.898 and c=18.391 A, while those of monoclinic Li2US3 are a=6.747, b=11.679, c=6.537 A and β=110.2 . The lattice parameters of hexagonal Na2US3 are a=4.036 and c=19.780 A. Those of monoclinic Na2US3 are a=6.990, b=12.105, c=6.992 A and β=109.5 . The molar ratios of the hexagonal and monoclinic phases are 52.2:47.8 for Li2US3 and 68.0:32.0 for Na2US3, respectively. The atom parameters of uranium and sulfur were obtained by Rietveld calculation of the observed X-ray peaks. The atom separations are discussed in relation to the crystal radii of the component ions. (orig.)