Preparation and Characterization of New Sb-Containing Ternary Sulfides with Layered Composite Crystal Structure

New Sb-Containing ternary sulfides with layered composite crystal structure have been prepared and characterized: (SbS) n TiS2, (SbS) n TaS2, (SbS) n (NbS2)2, and (SbS) n (TaS2)2; n≃1. On the basis of X-ray and electron diffraction patterns, it is suggested that the first and the second sulfides consist of a SbS and a TS2 (T=Ti or Ta) layers stacked alternately and that the third and the fourth sulfides consist of a SbS and two TS2 (T=Nb or Ta) layers stacked alternately. The in-plane electric resistivity of (SbS) n TaS2 showed metallic temperature dependence in the region of 4.2-300 K.