Exploratory synthesis in molten salts: role of flux basicity in the stabilization of the complex thiogermanates Cs(4)Pb(4)Ge(5)S(16), K(2)PbGe(2)S(6), and K(4)Sn(3)Ge(3)S(14)

The influence of the Lewis basicity of alkali polysulfide fluxes (A(2)S(x)) (A = alkali) as a function of x on the respective reactivities of Pb and Sn with Ge was studied and found to be strong. Cs(4)Pb(4)Ge(5)S(16), K(2)PbGe(2)S(6), and K(4)Sn(3)Ge(3)S(14) could be prepared only under low basicity with S/A(2)S ratios of > or =11. These compounds display complex frameworks and are semiconductors. Cs(4)Pb(4)Ge(5)S(16) is luminescent with red emission.