DOE OSTI2020
K2Zn5As4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmcm space group. The structure is three-dimensional. K1+ is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to four As3- atoms. There are two shorter (3.40 Å) and two longer (3.48 Å) K–As bond lengths. There are three inequivalent Zn2+ sites. In the first Zn2+ site, Zn2+ is bonded to four As3- atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing ZnAs4 tetrahedra. There are a spread of Zn–As bond distances ranging from 2.51–2.67 Å. In the second Zn2+ site, Zn2+ is bonded to four As3- atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing ZnAs4 tetrahedra. There are a spread of Zn–As bond distances ranging from 2.49–2.70 Å. In the third Zn2+ site, Zn2+ is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to four As3- atoms. There are two shorter (2.57 Å) and two longer (2.63 Å) Zn–As bond lengths. There are two inequivalent As3- sites. In the first As3- site, As3- is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to two equivalent K1+ and five Zn2+ atoms. In the second As3- site, As3- is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to two equivalent K1+ and five Zn2+ atoms.