Structures and Magnetic Properties of K₂Pd₄U₆S₁₇, K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇ Synthesized Using the Boron–Chalcogen Mixture Method

Abstract

A series of A₂M₄U₆S₁₇ (A = alkali metal; M = Pd, Pt) compounds, specifically K₂Pd₄U₆S₁₇, K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, were synthesized using the combined boron-chalcogen mixture and molten flux crystal growth methods. The formation of rubidium- and cesium-containing analogues resulted from a <i>in situ</i> alkali polysulfide flux formed from alkali carbonates. The successful synthesis of single crystals of the title compounds allowed for their structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure determination revealed disorder of the alkali cations in Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇ and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, while the potassium cations in K₂Pd₄U₆S₁₇ and K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇ were fully ordered. Magnetic measurements were performed on samples of K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇ that contained small amounts of paramagnetic β-US₂ and diamagnetic PtS. Antiferromagnetic order was observed at <i>T</i>_N = 9.1 K for K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇. No long-range magnetic order was observed for Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇ and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇. Uranium moments of 2.5, 2.6, and 2.6 μ_B were measured for K₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, Rb₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, and Cs₂Pt₄U₆S₁₇, respectively.