THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF SYNTHETIC STUETZ ITE, AG5-XTE3

The crystal structure of Ag5-xTe3 was determined by single crystal X-r ay structure analysis. The structure is of hexagonal symmetry (<P(6)ov er bar 2m>, Nr. 189) with a = 13.456(9) Angstrom and c = 16.917(9) Ang strom. The compound consists of highly mobile silver cations distribut ed in a tellurium framework forming Frank-Kasper polyhedra. Tellurium exists as Te2- as well as Te-2(2-)-dumbbells and forms three types of tetrahedral sites. A description of the distribution of silver on the tetrahedral voids is given resulting in a suggestion of possible diffu sion paths. Finally the homogenity region of Ag5-xTe3 is derived from the structure.