Sodium and potassium intercalation into Ta2PdS6

Two new phases derived from the layered ternary chalcogenide Ta2PdS6 have been successfully synthesised via the intercalation of sodium or potassium. MTa2PdS6 (M = Na, K) crystallise in monoclinic space group I2/m (No. 12), Z = 2, with lattice parameters a = 8.1366(7) angstrom, b = 3.2876(1) angstrom, c = 15.3279(3) angstrom, beta = 97.407(2)degrees for NaTa2PdS6, and a = 8.3845(3) angstrom, b = 3.2955(1) angstrom, c = 16.7416(8) angstrom, beta = 86.339(3)degrees in the case of KTa2PdS6. The general structure of the parent phase is retained upon intercalation, with increased unit cell volumes of 17.3% and 33.2% for the Na and K intercalates respectively. SQUID magnetometry shows that both intercalates are net diamagnets, but shows a significant reduction of magnetic susceptibility from Ta2PdS6 due to the increase in a Pauli paramagnetic component due to partial band filling.

Automated summary

Two new phases derived from layered ternary chalcogenide Ta2PdS6 have been successfully synthesized by intercalating sodium or potassium. Both intercalates crystallize in a monoclinic space group I2/m, retaining the general structure of the parent phase but with increased unit cell volumes. SQUID magnetometry shows that both intercalates are net diamagnets with a reduced magnetic susceptibility compared to Ta2PdS6 due to a partial band filling-induced increase in Pauli paramagnetic component.