Preparation and characterization of some ternary and quaternary copper thiospinels

Single crystals of the compounds CuV2S4, CuVTiS4, CuTi2S4, CuCrZrS4, CuCrSnS4, Cu/sub 1-y/InSnS4 (y = 0.125), and Cu/sub 0.5/Al/sub 2.5/S4 were grown by chemical transport using TeCl4 or mixtures of AlCl3/I2 as transporting agents. Characterization of the crystals was by electron microprobe analyses and X-ray methods. With the exception of Cu/sub 1-y/InSnS4 no deviation from stoichiometry was found. All compounds are normal spinels, the space group is Fd3m. Anion parameter values were determined by least squares refinement using single crystal X-ray data. (author)