TlxTi6Se8 and TlxNb6Se8, two phases with filled up Nb3Te4 type of structure showing pronounced cation disorder

The new ternary chalcogenides Tl_xTi₆Se₈ (x= 0.76) and Tl_xNb₆Se₈ (x= 0.70) crystallize with a partially filled up Nb₃Te₄-structure: space group $\text{P}\text{6}{}_3\text{m}$, z= 1 with

$\text{a= 9.882(1) c= 3.590(1)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{(Tl}{}_{0.76}\text{Ti}{}_6\text{Se}{}_8\text{)}$

$\text{a= 10.033(2) c= 3.475(1)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{(Tl}{}_{0.70}\text{TNb}{}_6\text{Se}{}_8\text{)}$

The crystal structures were determined from single crystal diffractometer data and refined to a conventional R-value of 0.077 and 0.055 respectively. The T1 atoms in the octahedral channels cannot be localized. In Tl_xTi₆Se₈ diffuse scattering indicates one-dimensional short range order. A model of the cation distribution in Tl_0.76Ti₆Se₈ is discussed.