Electrical and magnetic properties of quaternary rare earth thiophosphate: K4Sm2[PS4]2[P2S6]

The quaternary alkali metal, rare earth thiophosphate phase K4Sm2[PS4]2[P2S6] was synthesized by ceramic method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM-EDX scanning electron microscope-microprobe analyses, electrochemical impedance and magnetic measurements. The crystal structure consists of layers of ²∞Sm2[PS4]2[P2S6]4- separated by K+ cations. The electrical conductivity measurements indicate that the compound is a semiconductor with a resistivity of 1.0 x10(11) Ω cm. The magnetic moment, evaluated from χ-1 versus T at low temperature is 0.57 µB.