XAFS study of local atomic environment in well- and ill-ordered transition metal sulfides MxTS2 (T=Mo, Nb, Ta) derived from TS2 intercalates

XRD and XAFS data for two series in mixed-metal derivatives of layered TX2 disulfides (where T=Nb, Ta, and Mo), viz. MxMoS2 (M=Ni, Cu, Ag, Cd) and (Ni, Cr)0.33TS2 (T=Nb, Ta), and related species, were analyzed qualitatively. Intercalation of M atoms between MoS2 slabs in poorly-ordered MxMoS2 was supported by a comparison with crystalline Cr0.33TS2 and Ni0.33TS2 reference samples. A disorder of Nb and Ta atoms inside trigonal prismatic coordination polyhedron is revealed by EXAFS and discussed.