Synthesis, structure, electronic and thermal properties of sphalerite CuZn₂InS₄

Quaternary chalcogenides continue to be of interest due to the variety of physical properties they possess, as well as their potential for different applications of interest. Investigations on materials with the sphalerite crystal structure have only recently begun. In this study we have synthesized sulfur-based sphalerite quaternary chalcogenides, including off-stoichiometric compositions, and investigated the temperature-dependent electronic, thermal and structural properties of these materials. Insulating to semiconducting transport is observed with stoichiometric variation, and analyses of heat capacity and thermal expansion revealed lattice anharmonicity that contributes to the low thermal conductivity these materials possess. We include similar analyses for CuZn₂InSe₄ and compare these sphalerite quaternary chalcogenides to that of zinc blende binaries in order to fully understand the origin of the low thermal conductivity these quaternary chalcogenides possess.