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Synthesis and crystal structure of gold–silver sulfoselenides: morphotropy in the Ag3Au(Se,S)2 series

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Abstract

Gold–silver sulfoselenides of Ag3Au(Se,S)2 series—Ag3AuSe1.5S0.5, Ag3AuSeS, and Ag3AuSe0.5S1.5—have been synthesized by fusing the elements in the required stoichiometric amounts in evacuated quartz ampoules. The single crystal X-ray diffraction data indicate the existence of two solid-solution series: petzite-type cubic Ag3AuSe2—Ag3AuSeS (space group I4132) and trigonal Ag3AuSe0.5S1.5—Ag3AuS2 (space group \( R\overline{3} c \)). Both crystal structures differ in the distribution of Ag+/Au+ cations in the same distorted body-centered cubic sublattice of chalcogen anions. The morphotropic transformation results from the shrinkage of anion packing accompanied by the shortening of Ag–Ag distances. The structure of uytenbogaardtite mineral, earlier incorrectly interpreted as a tetragonal or cubic cell, is similar to that of the trigonal Ag3AuS2 end-member.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Jiri Sejkora and Emil Makovicky for their reviews that helped us to clarify the presentation of this paper. This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant 11-05-00504a).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the RAS, prosp. Akad. Koptyuga 3, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    Yu. V. Seryotkin, G. A. Pal’yanova & K. A. Kokh

  2. Novosibirsk State University, ul. Pirogova 2, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    Yu. V. Seryotkin

  3. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the RAS, prosp. Lavrentieva 3, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    V. V. Bakakin

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  1. Yu. V. Seryotkin
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  2. G. A. Pal’yanova
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  3. V. V. Bakakin
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  4. K. A. Kokh
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Correspondence to K. A. Kokh.

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Seryotkin, Y.V., Pal’yanova, G.A., Bakakin, V.V. et al. Synthesis and crystal structure of gold–silver sulfoselenides: morphotropy in the Ag3Au(Se,S)2 series. Phys Chem Minerals 40, 229–237 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-013-0563-y

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