Four new hydroxymonophosphates with closely related intersecting tunnels structures: The series AM(PO3(OH))2 with A=Rb, Cs; M=Fe, Al, Ga, In

The family of hydroxymonophosphates of generic formula AM^III(PO₃(OH))₂ has been revisited using hydrothermal techniques. Four new phases have been synthesized: CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂, RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂, RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂ and RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂. Single crystal diffraction studies show that they exhibit two different structural types from previously observed other phases with A=H₃O, NH₄, Rb and M=Al, V, Fe. The “Cs-In” and “Rb-Fe” phosphates crystallize in the triclinic space group , with the cell parameters a=7.4146(3) Å, b=9.0915(3) Å, c=9.7849(3) Å, α=65.525(3)°, β=70.201(3)°, γ=69.556(3)° and V=547.77(4) Å³ (Z=3) for CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=7.2025(4) Å, b=8.8329(8) Å, c=9.4540(8) Å, α=65.149(8)°, β=70.045(6)°, γ=69.591(6)° and V=497.44(8) Å³ (Z=3) for α-RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂. The “Rb-Al” and “Rb-Ga” phosphates crystallize in the Rc space group, with a=8.0581(18) Å and c=51.081(12) Å (V=2872.5(11) Å³ and Z=18) for RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=8.1188(15) Å and c=51.943(4) Å (V=2965(8) Å and Z=18) for RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂. These two structural types are closely related. Both are built up from M^IIIO6 octahedra sharing their apices with PO₃(OH) tetrahedra to form [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units, but the latter exhibits a different configuration of their tetrahedra. The three-dimensional host-lattices result from the connection of the [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units and they present numerous intersecting tunnels containing the monovalent cations.     

A sodium gallophosphate with an original tunnel structure: NaGa2(OH)(PO4)2

A new sodium gallophosphate, NaGa₂(OH)(PO₄)₂, has been obtained by hydrothermal synthesis under autogeneous pressure at 473 K. It crystallizes in the P2₁/n space group with the cell parameters a=8.9675(8) Å, b=8.9732(5) Å, c=9.2855(7) Å, β=114.812(6)°, V=678.2 Å³ (Z=4). In its original three-dimensional framework, monophosphate groups share their apices with [Ga₄O₁₆(OH)₂] tetrameric units, which are built from two GaO₅(OH) octahedra and two GaO₄(OH) trigonal bipyramids. The sodium cations are located in tunnels running along a, whereas the tunnels running along b are empty.     

Synthesis and structure of In(IO3)3 and vibrational spectroscopy of M(IO3)3 (M=Al, Ga, In)

The reaction of Al, Ga, or In metals and H₅IO₆ in aqueous media at 180 °C leads to the formation of Al(IO₃)₃, Ga(IO₃)_3, or In(IO₃)₃, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments have shown In(IO₃)₃ contains the Te₄O₉-type structure, while both Al(IO₃)₃ and Ga(IO₃)₃ are known to exhibit the polar Fe(IO₃)₃-type structure. Crystallographic data for In(IO₃)₃, trigonal, space group , a=9.7482(4) Å, c=14.1374(6) Å, V=1163.45(8) Z=6, R(F)=1.38% for 41 parameters with 644 reflections with I>2σ(I). All three iodate structures contain group 13 metal cations in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. M(IO₃)₃ (M=Al, Ga) contain a three-dimensional network formed by the bridging of Al³⁺ or Ga³⁺ cations by iodate anions. With In(IO₃)₃, iodate anions bridge In³⁺ cations in two-dimensional layers. Both materials contain distorted octahedral holes in their structures formed by terminal oxygen atoms from the iodate anions. The Raman spectra have been collected for these metal iodates; In(IO₃)₃ was found to display a distinctively different vibrational profile than Al(IO₃)₃ or Ga(IO₃)₃. Hence, the Raman profile can be used as a rapid diagnostic tool to discern between the different structural motifs.     

A large series of isotypic Mo(V) diphosphates with a tunnel structure: From A(MoO)10(P2O7)8 with A=Ba, Sr, Ca, Cd, Pb to A(MoO)5(P2O7)4 with A=Ag, Li, Na, K

The single crystal structure of a series of nine isotypic Mo(V) diphosphates was determined from crystals with composition A²⁺(MoO)₁₀(P₂O₇)₈ (A=Ba, Sr, Ca, Cd, Pb) and A⁺(MoO)₅(P₂O₇)₄ (A=Ag, Li, Na, K). The structure of those phosphates, built up of corner sharing MoO₆ octahedra, MoO₅ tetragonal pyramids and P₂O₇ diphosphates groups, forms eight-sided tunnels as described by Lii et al. for A=Ag. New features are evidenced: (1) existence of two orientations, up and down along b for the MoO₅ pyramids; (2) maximum insertion rate of the divalent cations which is twice less than that of the univalent cations; (3) different behavior of the series “Pb, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K” which exhibits only one kind of site for the inserted cation, compared to the “Cd, Ca, Ag” series for which two kinds of sites are observed; (4) off-centering of the A-site cations with respect to the tunnel axis; and (5) unusually high thermal factors along the tunnel axis, but absence of ionic conductivity.     

A new sodium hydroxygallophosphate containing tetrameric gallium units: Na3[Ga4O(OH)(H2O)(PO4)4]·H2O

A new sodium hydroxygallophosphate, Na₃Ga₄O(OH)(H₂O)(PO₄)₄·H₂O, has been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. Its structure has been determined from a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. It crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with the cell parameters a=9.445(2) Å, b=9.028(1) Å, c=19.209(3) Å, β=102.08(2), V=1603.4(4) Å³. Its three-dimensional framework can be described from PO₄ monophosphate groups sharing their apices with original Ga₄O₁₆(OH)(H₂O) tetrameric building units, which result from the assembly of one GaO₄ tetrahedron, one GaO₅ trigonal bipyramid and two octahedra: GaO₅(OH) and GaO₄(OH)(H₂O). The sodium cations and one water molecule are located in tunnels running along b.     

A crystal structure of mixed-metal dianionic phosphate Cs3.70Mg0.60Ti2.78(TiO)3(P2O7)4(PO4)2

The single crystals of caesium magnesium titanium (IV) tri-oxo-tetrakis-diphosphate bis-monophosphate, Cs_3.70Mg_0.60Ti_2.78(TiO)₃(P₂O₇)₄(PO₄)₂, crystallize in sp. gr. P-1 (No. 2) with cell parameters a=6.3245(4), b=9.5470(4), c=15.1892(9) Å, α=72.760(4), β=85.689(5), γ=73.717(4), z=1. The titled compound possesses a three-dimensional tunnel structure built by the corner-sharing of distorted [TiO₆] octahedra, [Ti₂O₁₁] bioctahedra, [PO₄] monophosphate and [P₂O₇] pyrophosphate groups. The Cs⁺ cations are located in the tunnels. The partial substitution of Ti positions with Mg atoms is observed. The negative charge of the framework is balanced by Cs cations and Mg atoms leading to pronounced concurrency and orientation disorder in the [P₂O₇] groups, which coordinate both.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the layered uranyl tellurites A2[(UO2)3(TeO3)2O2] (A=K, Rb, Cs)

The reactions of UO₃ and TeO₃ with KCl, RbCl, or CsCl at 800 °C for 5 d yield single crystals of A₂[(UO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂O₂] (A=K (1), Rb (2), and Cs (3)). These compounds are isostructural with one another, and their structures consist of two-dimensional sheets arranged in a stair-like topology separated by alkali metal cations. These sheets are comprised of zigzagging uranium(VI) oxide chains bridged by corner-sharing trigonal pyramidal TeO₃²⁻ anions. The chains are composed of dimeric, edge-sharing, pentagonal bipyramidal UO₇ moieties joined by edge-sharing tetragonal bipyramidal UO₆ units. The lone-pair of electrons from the TeO₃ groups are oriented in opposite directions with respect to one another on each side of the sheets rendering each individual sheet non-polar. The alkali metal cations form contacts with nearby tellurite oxygen atoms as well as with oxygen atoms from the uranyl moieties. Crystallographic data (193 K, MoKα, ): 1, triclinic, space group , , , , α=101.852(1)°, β=102.974(1)°, γ=100.081(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.70% for 98 parameters and 1697 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, triclinic, space group , , , , α=105.590(2)°, β=101.760(2)°, γ=99.456(2)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.36% for 98 parameters and 1817 reflections with I>2σ(I); 3, triclinic, space group , , , , α=109.301(1)°, β=100.573(1)°, γ=99.504(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.61% for 98 parameters and 1965 reflections with I>2σ(I).     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal behavior of a novel oxoborate SrBi2B4O10

A new compound, SrBi₂B₄O₁₀, has been grown by cooling a melt with the stoichiometric composition. It is triclinic, P−1, a=6.819(1), b=6.856(1), c=9.812(2) Å, α=96.09(1), β=109.11(1), γ=101.94(1)°, V=416.5(1) Å³, Z=2. The crystal structure of the compound has been solved by direct methods and refined to R₁=0.050 (wR₂=0.128). The structure contains Bi-O pseudolayers build up from Bi-O chains involving oxocentred OBi₃ triangles. Sr atoms and [B₄O₉]⁶⁻ isolated anions (4B:3Δ□:<2Δ□>Δ) are located between the Bi-O packages.The thermal treatment as well as DSC experiment showed that the compound melts above 800 °C presumably according to the peritectic reaction: SrBi₂B₄O₁₀ ↔ SrB₂O₄+SrB₄O₇+ Liquid. According to high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction study thermal expansion of SrBi₂B₄O₁₀ structure is anisotropic (α₁₁=13, α₂₂=9, α₃₃=2, α_V=24×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹).     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal behavior of Sr3B2SiO8 borosilicate

Single crystals of Sr₃B₂SiO₈ were obtained by solid-state reaction of stoichiometric mixture at 1200 °C. The crystal structure of the compound has been solved by direct methods and refined to R1=0.064 (wR=0.133). It is orthorhombic, Pnma, a=12.361(4), b=3.927(1), c=5.419(1) Å, V=263.05(11) Å³. The structure contains zigzag pseudo-chains running along the b axis and built up from corner sharing (Si,B)−O polyhedra. Boron and silicon are statistically distributed over one site with their coordination strongly disordered. Sr atoms are located between the chains providing three-dimensional linkage of the structure.The formation of Sr₃B₂SiO₈ has been studied using annealing series in air at 900-1200 °C. According powder XRD, the probe contains pure Sr₃B₂SiO₈ over 1100 °C. The compound is not stable below 900 °C. In the pseudobinary Sr₂B₂O₅-Sr₃B₂SiO₈ system a new series of solid solutions Sr_3−xB₂Si_1−xO_8−3x (x=0-0.9) have been crystallized from melt. The thermal behavior of Sr₃B₂SiO₈ was investigated using powder high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) in the temperature range 20-900 °C. The anisotropic character of thermal expansion has been observed: α_a= −1.3, α_b=23.5, α_c=13.9, and α_V=36.1×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (25 °C); α_a= −1.3, α_b=23.2, α_c=5.2, and α_V=27.1×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (650 °C). Maximal thermal expansion of the structure along of the chain direction [0 1 0] is caused by the partial straightening of chain zigzag. Hinge mechanism of thermal expansion is discussed.     

cis-trans Germanium chains in the intermetallic compounds ALi1-xInxGe2 and A2(Li1-xInx)2Ge3 (A=Sr, Ba, Eu)—experimental and theoreticalstudies

Two types of strontium-, barium- and europium-containing germanides have been synthesized using high temperature reactions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All reported compounds also contain mixed-occupied Li and In atoms, resulting in quaternary phases with narrow homogeneity ranges. The first type comprises EuLi_0.91(1)In_0.09Ge₂, SrLi_0.95(1)In_0.05Ge₂ and BaLi_0.99(1)In_0.01Ge₂, which crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (BaLi_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂ structure type, Pearson code oP16). The lattice parameters are a=7.129(4)-7.405(4) Å; b=4.426(3)-4.638(2) Å; and c=11.462(7)-11.872(6) Å. The second type includes Eu₂Li_1.36(1)In_0.64Ge₃ and Sr₂Li_1.45(1)In_0.55Ge₃, which adopt the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (Ce₂Li₂Ge₃ structure type, Pearson code oC28) with lattice parameters a=4.534(2)-4.618(2) Å; b=19.347(8)-19.685(9) Å; and c=7.164(3)-7.260(3) Å. The polyanionic sub-structures in both cases feature one-dimensional Ge chains with alternating Ge-Ge bonds in cis- and trans-conformation. Theoretical studies using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) method provide the rationale for optimizing the overall bonding by diminishing the π-p delocalization along the Ge chains, accounting for the experimentally confirmed substitution of Li forIn.     

Low-alkali metal content in β-vanadium mixed bronzes: The crystal structures of β-Kx(V,Mo)6O15 (x=0.23 and 0.32) by single-crystal X-ray diffraction

The vanadium-molybdenum mixed oxide bronzes of composition K_0.23(V_5.35Mo_0.65)O₁₅ and K_0.32(V_5.48Mo_0.52)O₁₅ have a monoclinic structure with s.g. C2/m, Z=2, and unit-cell dimensions a=15.436(2), b=3.6527(5), c=10.150(1) Å, β=108.604(3)° and a=15.452(2), b=3.6502(5), c=10.142(1) Å, β=109.168(3)°, respectively, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds show the β-Na_xV₆O₁₅ tunnel structure, which is isostructural with bannermanite, natural sodium-potassium vanadate. Structure refinements from diffracted intensities collected in the 2-38°θ range converged to final R=5.58% and 7.48% for the two crystals, respectively. The V atoms are distributed on three different crystallographic sites. Partial substitution of V with Mo occurs in only one of these positions. Oxygen atoms involved in vanadyl groups point toward the tunnels. The K ions in the tunnels are coordinated by seven oxygen atoms. The alkali metal content in these crystals is much lower than the solubility limit found for the analogous Na containing compound.     

A novel cesium hydroxygallophosphate with a layered structure built up of rutile ribbons: CsGa2(OH)2[(PO4)H(PO4)]

A new cesium gallophosphate, CsGa₂(OH)₂[(PO₄)H(PO₄)], with an original layer structure has been synthesized by hydrothermal route and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (R=0.0344, R_w=0.0319). Its structure crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/a with cell parameters , , , β=93.36(4)° and Z=2. It consists of [Ga(OH)PO₄]_∞ layers built up of rutile ribbons interconnected through PO₄ tetrahedra. The structure of CsGa₂(OH)₂[(PO₄)H(PO₄)] is closely related to those of (NH₄)Ga(OH)PO₄ and (en)Ga₂(OH)₂(PO₄)₂ (en=ethylenediamine [H₃N(CH₂)₂NH₃]²⁺). The three structures differ mainly from each other by the relative positions and the spacing of the successive layers, which are governed by different hydrogen bonding modes between [Ga(OH)PO₄]_∞ layers and the interleaved species. The title compound presents strong symmetric hydrogen bonds O---H---O which bridge two PO₄ tetrahedra of two successive layers. As a consequence, the distance between the layers is significantly shorter than in the two other amine compounds.     

Order-disorder in In perovskites: The example of A(In2/3B″1/3)O3 (A=Ba, Sr; B″=W, U)

We describe the preparation and structural characterization of four In-containing perovskites from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data. Sr₃In₂B″O₉ and Ba(In_2/3B″_1/3)O₃ (B″=W, U) were synthesized by standard ceramic procedures. The crystal structure of the W-containing perovskites and Ba(In_2/3U_1/3)O₃ have been revisited based on our high-resolution NPD and XRPD data, while for the new U-containing perovskite Sr₃In₂UO₉ the structural refinement was carried out from high-resolution XRPD data. At room temperature, the crystal structure for the two Sr phases is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, where the In atoms occupy two different sites Sr₂[In]_2d[In_1/3B″_2/3]_2cO₆, with a=5.7548(2) Å, b=5.7706(2) Å, c=8.1432(3) Å, β=90.01(1)° for B″=W and a=5.861(1) Å, b=5.908(1) Å, c=8.315(2) Å, β=89.98(1)° for B″=U. The two phases with A=Ba should be described in a simple cubic perovskite unit cell (S.G. Pm3¯m) with In and B″ distributed at random at the octahedral sites, with a=4.16111(1) Å and 4.24941(1) Å for W and U compounds, respectively.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of A3In2Ge4 and A5In3Ge6 (A=Ca, Sr, Eu, Yb)—New intermetallic compounds with complex structures, exhibiting Ge-Ge and In-In bonding

Reported are the synthesis and the structural characterization of four new polar intermetallic phases, which exist only with mixed alkaline-earth and rare-earth metal cations in narrow homogeneity ranges. (Sr_1-xCa_x)₅In₃Ge₆ and (Eu_1-xYb_x)₅In₃Ge₆ (x≈0.7) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with two formula units per unit cell (own structure type, Pearson symbol oP56). The lattice parameters are as follows: a=13.109(3)-13.266(3) Å, b=4.4089(9)-4.4703(12) Å, and c=23.316(5)-23.557(6) Å. (Sr_1-xCa_x)₃In₂Ge₄ and (Sr_1-xYb_x)₃In₂Ge₄ (x≈0.4-0.5) adopt another novel monoclinic structure-type (space group C2/m, Z=4, Pearson symbol mS36) with lattice parameters in the range a=19.978(2)-20.202(2) Å, b=4.5287(5)-4.5664(5) Å, c=10.3295(12)-10.3447(10) Å, and β=98.214(2)-98.470(2)°, depending on the metal cations and their ratio. The polyanionic sub-structures in both cases are based on chains of InGe₄ corner-shared tetrahedra. The A₅In₃Ge₆ structure (A=Sr/Ca or Sr/Yb) also features Ge₄ tetramers, and isolated In atoms in nearly square-planar environment, while the A₃In₂Ge₄ structure (A=Sr/Ca or Eu/Yb) contains zig-zag chains of In and Ge strings with intricate topology of cis- and trans-bonds. The experimental results have been complemented by tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band structure calculations.     

Syntheses, structures, and vibrational spectroscopy of the two-dimensional iodates Ln(IO3)3 and Ln(IO3)3(H2O) (LnYb, Lu)

The reaction of Lu³⁺ or Yb³⁺ and H₅IO₆ in aqueous media at 180 °C leads to the formation of Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O) or Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O), respectively, while the reaction of Yb metal with H₅IO₆ under similar reaction conditions gives rise to the anhydrous iodate, Yb(IO₃)₃. Under supercritical conditions Lu³⁺ reacts with HIO₃ and KIO₄ to yield the isostructural Lu(IO₃)₃. The structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data are (MoKα, λ=0.71073 Å): Yb(IO₃)₃, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.6664(9) Å, b=5.9904(6) Å, c=14.8826(15) Å, β=96.931(2)°, V=766.99(13), Z=4, R(F)=4.23% for 114 parameters with 1880 reflections with I>2σ(I); Lu(IO₃)₃, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.6410(9), b=5.9961(6), c=14.8782(16) Å, β=97.028(2)°, V=765.08(14), Z=4, R(F)=2.65% for 119 parameters with 1756 reflections with I>2σ(I); Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O), monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=27.2476(15), b=5.6296(3), c=12.0157(7) Å, β=98.636(1)°, V=1822.2(2), Z=8, R(F)=1.51% for 128 parameters with 2250 reflections with I>2σ(I); Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O), monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=27.258(4), b=5.6251(7), c=12.0006(16) Å, β=98.704(2)°, V=1818.8(4), Z=8, R(F)=1.98% for 128 parameters with 2242 reflections with I>2σ(I). The f elements in all of the compounds are found in seven-coordinate environments and bridged with monodentate, bidentate, or tridentate iodate anions. Both Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O) and Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O) display distinctively different vibrational profiles from their respective anhydrous analogs. Hence, the Raman profile can be used as a complementary diagnostic tool to discern the different structural motifs of the compounds.     

Polycationic disorder in [Bi6O4(OH)4](NO3)6: Structure determination using synchrotron radiation and microcrystal X-ray diffraction

The bismuth basic nitrate [Bi₆O₄(OH)₄](NO₃)₆ crystallizes in a rhombohedral hexagonal unit cell with parameters , , , Z=6, space group R-3. The synthesis, formula determination, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrate assay, and finally, its crystal structure refinement determined at 150(2) K by synchrotron X-ray microcrystal diffraction are reported. Its structure is built from [Bi₆O₄(OH)₄]⁶⁺ polycations, six per unit cell, disordered over two positions. Two oxygen atoms are common to the two antagonist polycations (full occupancy) while the remaining six are partially occupied. The [Bi₆O₄(OH)₄]⁶⁺ hexanuclear clusters form columns along the c-axis. The cohesion between polycationic entities is effected by nitrate anions through either OH-ONO₂ hydrogen bonds or Bi-ONO₂ bonds. One of the two independent [NO₃]⁻ groups is also disordered over two positions. Only a local order in the columns is obtained by formation of pairs of ordered [Bi₆O₄(OH)₄]⁶⁺ polycations.     

Crystal structure and electronic properties of the new compounds U3Co12−xX4 with X=Si, Ge

The new compounds U₃Co_12−xX₄ with X=Si, Ge were prepared by direct solidification of the corresponding liquid phase, followed by subsequent annealing at 1173 K. Single crystal X-ray diffraction carried out at room temperature showed that they crystallize with the hexagonal space group P6₃/mmc (no.194) and the unit-cell parameters a=8.130(5), c=8.537(5) Å and a=8.256(1), c=8.608(1) Å for the silicide and germanide, respectively. Their crystal structure derives from the EuMg_5.2 structure type, and is closely related to the Sc₃Ni₁₁Si₄ and Gd₃Ru_4−xAl_12+x types. For the present compounds, no substitution mechanisms have been observed, the partial occupancy of one Co site results from the presence of vacancies, only. The homogeneity ranges, evaluated by energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, extend from x=0.0(2) to 0.3(2) and from x=0.0(2) to 1.0(2) for U₃Co_12−xSi₄ and U₃Co_12−xGe₄, respectively. The electronic properties of both compounds were investigated by means of DC magnetic susceptibility and DC electrical resistivity measurements. The U₃Co_12−xX₄ compounds are both Pauli paramagnets with their electrical resistivity best described as poor metallic or dirty metallic behavior.     

Solid-state synthesis, structural variants and transformation of three-dimensional sulfides, AGaSnS4 (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl) and Na1.263Ga1.263Sn0.737S4

New cubic-AGaSnS₄ (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl) and orthorhombic-NaGaSnS₄ compounds were synthesized by solid-state reactions and characterized by X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Single crystals of orthorhombic-Na_1.263Ga_1.263Sn_0.737S₄ were obtained in the crystal growth attempts of sodium compound. All six new compounds have orthorhombic AgGaGeS₄ and cubic BaGa₂S₄ structures, as determined from single crystal X-ray structures of Na_1.263Ga_1.263Sn_0.737S₄ and cubic-AGaSnS₄ (A=Na, K, Rb). Orthorhombic-NaGaSnS₄ and known layered-KGaSnS₄ undergo structural transformation to thermodynamically stable cubic form.