α-CsPbBi3Se6 (I), β-CsPbBi3Se6 (II), RbPbBi3Se6 (III), KPbBi3Se6 (IV), CsPbBi3S6 (V), and
RbPbBi3S6 (VI) were synthesized by the polychalcogenide flux method. α-CsPbBi3Se6 was
obtained at 720 °C and crystallizes in the space group Pnma (no. 62) with a = 23.564(6) Å,
b = 4.210(2) Å, c = 13.798(3) Å at room temperature. Final R/R
w = 3.0/3.6%. In this
compound, parallel NaCl-type Pb/Bi/Se columns with rectangularly shaped cross-sections
are interconnected by edge sharing to build a 3-D tunnel framework with Cs atoms located
inside the tunnels. The hexagonal plates of β-CsPbBi3Se6 were obtained at 400 °C and
crystallize in the space group P63/mmc (no. 194) with a = 4.213(2) Å, c = 25.22(1) Å, γ =
120° at −100 °C. Final R/R
w = 4.2/4.7%. APbBi3Se6 (A = Rb, K) and APbBi3S6 (A = Cs, Rb)
are isostructural with β-CsPbBi3Se6 and their hexagonal cell parameters were obtained at
room temperature. The structure is composed of negatively charged Bi2Te3-type bilayers
separated by alkali metals, which are distributed over two different crystallographic sites.
The alkali metal ions are loosely packed in the interlayer space making them mobile.
Topotactic ion-exchange reactions of two compounds, β-CsPbBi3Se6 and RbPbBi3Se6, were
examined with LiI and NaI in the solid state and in aqueous solution. Prolonged water contact
of the hexagonal compounds leads to decomposition and leaching of alkali metal and Pb2+
ions. Electrical conductivity and thermopower measurements for single crystals of I, II, and
III show n-type semiconductor behavior with 0.6, 0.3, and 0.3 S/cm and −730, −550, and
−560 μV/K at room temperature, respectively. The optical band gaps of all compounds range
from 0.27 to 0.89 eV. Thermal properties of the compounds are reported.