| Abstract: | The title phase (pentalead triindium pentabismuth heptadecasulfide) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Its structure contains mixed Bi/In, In/Bi and Pb/In positions; all atoms lie on crystallographic mirror planes. The structural relationship between Pb5In3Bi5S17 and a phase known by the formula Pb4In3Bi7S18 is discussed. A comparatively large and complex structural `seed' is defined which is common to both phases. The structural changes within this seed when moving from one phase to the other are described by graphical means. |
