title: Synthesis, crystal structure, and colloidal dispersions of vanadium tetrasulfide (VS4).
abstract: Although many of the layered metal chalcogenides, such as MoS2, are well-studied, some other chalcogenides have received less attention by comparison. In particular, there has been an emerging interest in vanadium tetrasulfide (VS4), which displays useful properties as a component of hybrids. However, the synthetic methods and characteristics of individual VS4 are not yet well defined, and there is no report on its solution processability. Here we have synthesized VS4 by a simple and fast direct reaction between elements. Reinvestigation of the VS4 crystal structure yielded more precise atomic coordinates and interatomic distances, thereby confirming the crystallization of VS4 in the monoclinic C2/c group and its quasi-1D chainlike structure. As the chains in VS4 are only bonded by weak van der Waals forces, we further demonstrate that bulk VS4 may be ultrasonically dispersed in appropriate solvents to form colloids, similarly to the layered chalcogenides. VS4 particles in colloids retain their phase identity and rod-shaped morphology with lengths in the range of hundreds of nanometers. Isopropanol dispersion exhibited the highest concentration and stability, which was achieved owing to the repulsion caused by high negative charges on the edges of the particles.
authors: Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogova Str., 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation). kozlovamariia@list.ru.
authors: Mariia N
authors: MN
authors: Kozlova
authors: Yuri V
authors: YV
authors: Mironov
authors: Ekaterina D
authors: ED
authors: Grayfer
authors: Anton I
authors: AI
authors: Smolentsev
authors: Vladimir I
authors: VI
authors: Zaikovskii
authors: Nadezhda A
authors: NA
authors: Nebogatikova
authors: Tatyana Yu
authors: TY
authors: Podlipskaya
authors: Vladimir E
authors: VE
authors: Fedorov
keywords: X-ray diffraction; chain structures; colloids; sulfur; vanadium