Nickel(II) uranium(IV) trisulfide

Abstract

Crystals of NiUS3 were obtained from the reaction of the elements Ni, U, S, and of GeI2 in a CsCl flux at 1173 K. Nickel(II) uranium(IV) trisulfide, NiUS3, has orthorhombic (Pnma) symmetry and crystallizes in the GdFeO3 structure type. The compound has a perovskite ABQ3-like structure, with U occupying the interstitial sites of a NiS6 framework. The U atoms are coordinated by eight S atoms in a distorted bicapped trigonal–prismatic arrangement. The Ni atoms are coordinated by six S atoms in a slightly distorted octahedral arrangement. The asymmetric unit comprises one U site (site symmetry .m.), one Ni site (-1), and two S sites (1 and .m.).