SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW COPPER IRON TELLURIDE

(CuFe)(22)Te-2 (tetragonal, space group P4/nmm (No. 129), a = 398.9 (1 ), c = 609.4(3) pm, Z = 1) crystallizes in a defect structure of the C u2Sb type. Tellurium atoms form a tetragonally deformed fee-like latti ce in which one-half of the tetrahedral sites are statistically occupi ed by copper and iron atoms in the ratio 1:1. The remaining iron atoms are randomly distributed in the square pyramidal or pseudo-octahedral sites. XPS analysis reveals the presence of one valence state for cop per, Cu(I), whereas iron exists as Fe(II) and Fe(III). The synthesis o f (CuFe)(22)Te-2 was performed from the elements at a final temperatur e of 973 K.