Synthesis and Properties of La₁₄TME₆CuS₂₄O₄, Exhibiting Multivalent Spin Chains (TME = Cr, Fe)

Two homologues in a series of quinary oxysulfides, La₁₄TME₆CuS₂₄O₄ (TME = Cr or Fe), have been synthesized by solid-state synthesis in sealed ampules, and their structures are homologue to assume a novel crystal structure. X-ray diffraction analyses of single crystal and powder samples give a monoclinic lattice, described in the C2/m (No. 12) space group, with lattice parameters a = 15.3853(5) Å, b = 13.9729(5) Å, c = 10.5074(4) Å, and β = 116.227(3)° for the Cr analogue and a = 15.4303(2) Å, b = 14.0033(2) Å, c = 10.4909(2) Å, and β = 116.261(2)° for Fe. The crystal structure contains one-dimensional (1D) chains consisting of interconnected transition metal element (TME) trimers, which are further arranged into two-dimensional (2D) layers. These spin-chain planes are interspaced with 1D chains of lanthanum-oxygen coordinations and an apparent disordered occupation of copper sites. Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the Cr and Fe analogues exhibit what is best described as spin-domain formation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest the formal oxidation state of the species is best represented in the form La₁₄TME₅²⁺TME³⁺Cu⁺S₂₄O₄.