Ba2AgInS4 and Ba4MGa5Se12 (M = Ag, Li): syntheses, structures, and optical properties.

The first two members in alkaline-earth/group XI/group XIII/chalcogen system, namely Ba(2)AgInS(4) and Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12), were synthesized along with a Li analogue Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12). Ba(2)AgInS(4) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/c. It contains [AgInS(4)](4-) layers built from AgS(3) triangles and InS(4) tetrahedra with Ba(2+) cations inserted between the layers. Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12) and Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12) adopt two closely-related structure types in space group P4[combining macron]2(1)c with structural difference originating from the different positions of Ag and Li in them. The three-dimensional framework in Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12) is composed of GaSe(4) tetrahedra with the Ba and Ag atoms occupying the large and small channels respectively, whereas that in Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12) is built from LiSe(4) and GaSe(4) tetrahedra with channels to accommodate the Ba atoms. As deduced from the diffuse reflectance spectra measurement, the optical band gaps were 2.32 (2) eV, 2.52 (2) eV, and 2.65 (2) eV for Ba(2)AgInS(4), Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12), and Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12), respectively.