Synthesis, structure, and physical properties of the new layered ternary chalcogenide NbNiTe5

The new ternary chalcogenide NbNiTe5 has been prepared. NbNiTe5 crystallizes with four formula units in a cell with dimensions a = 3.656(5), b = 13.075(16), c = 15.111(19) Å in the orthorhombic system in space group D172h-Cmcm. The structure has been refined to a final R index on F2o of 0.037 for 25 variables and 1405 observations. NbNiTe5 forms in a new layered structural type. Each layer consists of bicapped trigonal prismatic niobium atoms and octahedral nickel atoms coordinated by tellurium atoms. Electrical conductivity measurements indicate that NbNiTe5 is a metal; its conductivity at room temperature is about 1.3 × 104 Ω−1 cm−1. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that NbNiTe5 is paramagnetic (Xrt ≈ 1.04 × 10−3 emu mole−1).