Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.49, No.14, 6372-6374, 2010
Copper-Rich Framework Sulfides: A(4)Cu(8)Ge(3)S(12) (A = K, Rb) with Cubic Perovskite Structure
Two copper-rich open-framework sulfides, K4Cu8Ge3S12 (1) and Rb4Cu8Ge3S12 (2), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and contain icosahedral [Cu8S12](16-) clusters as basic building blocks. These clusters are primitive cubic packed and connect to one another by discrete Ge4+ ions to generate 3D copper-rich Cu-Ge-S framework and form 3D channels along < 100 > directions where the alkali metal cations reside. These two open-framework sulfides crystallize in cubic perovskite structure.