Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of quaternary selenodiphosphates: AMP2SE6 with A = Cu, Ag and M = Bi, Sb

The new quaternary selenophosphate phases AMP2Se6 (A=Cu, Ag and M=Bi, Sb) were synthesized by ceramic methods at 1023 K. These phases were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and a.c. and d.c. electrical conductivity measurements. The phases all show values of electrical conductivity, σ, of about 10−4 Ω−1 cm−1 at 303 K and photoconductive effect. The conductivity is nearly five orders of magnitude larger than that of related phases.