DOE OSTI2020
Hg3ZnS2Cl4 crystallizes in the monoclinic P2_1 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are three inequivalent Hg2+ sites. In the first Hg2+ site, Hg2+ is bonded in a rectangular see-saw-like geometry to one S2- and three Cl1- atoms. The Hg–S bond length is 2.44 Å. There are one shorter (2.54 Å) and two longer (2.86 Å) Hg–Cl bond lengths. In the second Hg2+ site, Hg2+ is bonded in a rectangular see-saw-like geometry to one S2- and three Cl1- atoms. The Hg–S bond length is 2.45 Å. There are a spread of Hg–Cl bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.88 Å. In the third Hg2+ site, Hg2+ is bonded in a rectangular see-saw-like geometry to one S2- and three Cl1- atoms. The Hg–S bond length is 2.45 Å. There are a spread of Hg–Cl bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.89 Å. Zn2+ is bonded in a tetrahedral geometry to one S2- and three Cl1- atoms. The Zn–S bond length is 2.21 Å. All Zn–Cl bond lengths are 2.39 Å. There are two inequivalent S2- sites. In the first S2- site, S2- is bonded in a distorted rectangular see-saw-like geometry to three Hg2+ and one Cl1- atom. The S–Cl bond length is 3.61 Å. In the second S2- site, S2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one Zn2+ atom. There are four inequivalent Cl1- sites. In the first Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a distorted trigonal non-coplanar geometry to three Hg2+ and one S2- atom. In the second Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a 1-coordinate geometry to two Hg2+ and one Zn2+ atom. In the third Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a 1-coordinate geometry to two Hg2+ and one Zn2+ atom. In the fourth Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a 1-coordinate geometry to two Hg2+ and one Zn2+ atom.