Abstract

The ternary copper(I) samarium(III) sulfide SmCuS2 has been prepared by heating SmS and CuS in the ratio 1:1 at 1273K for 3 days in sealed quartz ampoule. Single-crystal diffraction analysis shows that SmCuS 2 crystallizes monoclinic in the LaCuS2 structure-type (P21/c (No. 14); a=647.15(3)pm, b=710.82(3)pm, c=677.96(3)pm and ?=98.353(4)°;Z=4) and it is isostructural to PrCuS2. According to electrical conductivity as well as diffuse reflectance measurements, SmCuS2 is a semiconductor with an optical band gap of 2.1eV. The magnetic susceptibility data show that Sm moments in SmCuS 2 orders antiferromagnetically at 2.92(6)K. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.