Growth of Single Crystals of Vanadium Sulfides and their electrical conductivity

An equilibrium isotherm on V-S system at 900°C was determined by changing partial pressure of sulfur. Single crystals of several V₅S₈ and V₂S₃ compounds were grown by chemical transport. The grown crystals almost satisfied compositional relation on equilibrium isotherms between 900°C (hot zone) and lower temperatures (cold zone). Electrical conductivity of the single crystals was measured at temperatures from liquid nitrogen to 25°C. It showed metallic behavior without any significant dependence on compositional variation. Also the conductivity measurement of sintered samples for various vanadium sulfides was carried out in the compositional range from VS_1,38 (V₃S₄ phase) to VS_1,58 (V₅S₈ phase).