Through a solid-state reaction, a practically phase pure powder of Ba3 V2 S4 O3 was obtained. The crystal structure was confirmed by X-ray single-crystal and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (P63 , a=10.1620(2), c=5.93212(1) Å). X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in conjunction with multiplet calculations, clearly describes the vanadium in charge-disproportionated V(III) S6 and V(V) SO3 coordinations. The compound is shown to be a strongly correlated Mott insulator, which contradicts previous predictions. Magnetic and specific heat measurements suggest dominant antiferromagnetic spin interactions concomitant with a weak residual ferromagnetic component, and that intrinsic geometric frustration prevents long-range order from evolving.
Keywords: X-ray spectroscopy; magnetic properties; semiconductors; solid-state reactions; vanadium.
© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.