Optical and Electrical Properties of A3[VS4] (A = Na, K) Synthesized via a Straightforward and Scalable Solid-State Method.

Abstract

Two literature-known sulfido vanadates, Na3[VS4] and K3[VS4], were obtained through a straightforward and scalable synthetic method. Highly crystalline powders of both compounds were obtained from the homogeneous molten phases of starting materials via a─comparably rapid─solid-state technique. Low-temperature structure determination, ambient temperature powder diffraction, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy verify previous structural reports and indicate purity of the obtained samples. Both compounds show semiconductivity with the optical band gap values in the range of 2.1 to 2.3 eV. Experimental values of the ionic conductivity and dielectric constants are σ = 2.41·10-5 mS·cm-1, k = 76.52 and σ = 1.36·10-4 mS·cm-1, k = 103.67 at ambient temperature for Na3[VS4] and K3[VS4], respectively. It is demonstrated that Na3[VS4] depicts second-order nonlinear optical properties, i.e., second harmonic generation over a broad wavelength spectrum. The results introduce new aspects of sulfido vanadates as multifunctional candidates for potential optical and electrical applications.