The sulphides, Selenides, and Tellurides of Titanium, Zirconium, Hafnium, and Thorium. I. Preparation and characterization

Abstract

The nine systems Ti-S, Ti-Se, Ti-Te, Zr-S, Zr-Se, Zr-Te, Hf-S, Hf-Se, and Hf-Te have been investigated by X-ray techniques for the occurrence of phases between the compositions AX_max. and AX. Compounds were prepared from materials of high purity by direct synthesis from the elements, or by degradation of a higher to a lower phase. All manipulation was done in dry argon. Several new compounds are reported, some major differences in the type of phase formed by zirconium and hafnium are noted, and a different interpretation of the X-ray data for the AX₃ compounds is discussed.