Preparation and crystal structure of Na 2Mn 2S 3

Abstract

Na 2Mn 2S 3 was prepared by reacting manganese powder with an excess of anhydrous sodium carbonate and elemental sulfur at 870 K. Extraction of the solidified melt with water and alcohol yielded well developed, bright red crystals. Na 2Mn 2S 3 crystallizes with a new monoclinic structure type, space group C2 c , Z = 8 , with a = 14.942(2)Å, b = 13.276(2)Å, c = 6.851(2)Å, and β = 116.50(1)°. The crystal structure was determined from single crystal diffractometer data and refined to a conventional R value of 0.026 for 1613 observed reflections. The atomic arrangement shows sulfur-manganese-sulfur slabs which are separated from each other by corrugated layers of sodium atoms. A prominent feature of the crystal structure is the formation of short, four-membered zigzag chains built up by MnS 4 tetradedra sharing edges. These chains are further connected by the remaining apices to form an infinite sheet. Short MnMn distances (3.02 and 3.05 Å, respectively) are found within the four membered chains. Susceptibility measurements show antiferromagnetic interactions between the Mn atoms.