Vanadium-selenium-based misfit layer compounds – Insights into synthesis, morphology, and structure

Abstract Different approaches and conditions of synthesis for misfit layer compounds (MLCs) are compared for the ternary systems V-Se-Bi, V-Se-Pb, and V-Se-Sn. Best results were obtained with NH4Cl as crystallisation aid, moderate annealing temperatures, and long annealing durations. The compositions, the morphology, and the structure are discussed. Depending on the stacking sequence of the compound, only plate-like or tube-like MLC crystals could be obtained. The structural properties, but not all the structural defects, of the MLC (PbSe)1+δVSe2 are comparable to the respective ferecrystals in the literature.