Structural determination of some MPS3 layered phases (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cd)

The structures of most of the MPS3 phases (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd) were determined from single crystal analysis. They show the expected CdCl2 structural type, some weak disorder on the cationic sites being detected on NiPS3 and CoPS3. Fair stoichiometry is inferred for the phases since no interslab cation could be seen in the Van der Waals' gap of the structures. Polytypism may occur in the case of NiPS3.