Solvothermal syntheses, crystal structures, and photocurrent responses of quaternary sulfides RbAgZnS2 and Cs2Ag2Zn2S4.

Two new compounds RbAgZnS 2 (1) and Cs 2 Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 (2) have been successfully synthesized under facile solvothermal method using excess sulfur as a mineralizer. Compound 1 contains anionic [AgZnS 2 ] n n− layers composed of MS 4 (M ​= ​Ag/Zn) tetrahedra, in which Ag+ and Zn2+ ions occupy the same crystallographic site. In the structure of compound 2 , the anionic [Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 ] n 2n− layer is composed of [AgS 2 ] n 3n− and [ZnS 2 ] n 2n− anion chains which are generated by AgS 4 and ZnS 4 tetrahedra, respectively. The band gap values of the two compounds reveal that they are semiconductors. Furthermore, the photoelectric response experiment indicates compound 2 exhibits excellent photoelectric response performance. Compound Cs 2 Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 (2) were synthesized under solvothermal conditions by using excess sulfurasan effectivemineralizer.Its anionic [Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 ] n 2n- layer is composed of [AgS 2 ] n 3n- and [ZnS 2 ] n 2n- anion chains which are generated by AgS 4 and ZnS 4 tetrahedra, respectively. Furthermore, the photoelectric response experiment indicates compound 2 exhibits excellent photoelectric response performance. [Display omitted] • Two sulfides RbAgZnS 2 ​(1) and Cs 2 Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 ​(2) were synthesized solvothermally using excess sulfur as a mineralizer. • The structures of the two compounds are completely different due to the effect of different structural directing agents. • Cs 2 Ag 2 Zn 2 S 4 (2) exhibits excellent photoelectric response performance. • This is an extremely rare study on the influence of structural directing agents about hetero-transition metal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]