Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of K2Ta2S10: A novel ternary tantalum polysulfide with TaS8 polyhedra forming infinite anionic chains

The new ternary alkali tantalum polysulfide K₂Ta₂S₁₀ has been synthesized by reacting TaS₂ with an in situ formed melt of K₂S₃ and S at 773 K. The compound crystallizes with four formula units in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (No. 14) with lattice parameters of . The structure contains two different zigzag chain anions [TaS₅]⁻, running parallel to the crystallographic b-axis separated by potassium cations. The two crystallographically independent tantalum atoms are in a distorted bi-capped trigonal prismatic environment of eight sulfur atoms which was never observed before. The TaS₈ polyhedra share three S atoms on each side to form the anionic chains. The compound was characterized with FIR and Raman spectroscopy.