Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Cu4NiSi2S7

The structure of the compound Cu₄NiSi₂S₇ has been determined. It crystallizes in a new, monoclinic distorted sphalerite superlattice with the parameters: $\text{a}\text{= 11.551}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b}\text{= 5.313}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c}\text{= 8.165}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 98.72°, $\text{V}\text{= 495.2}\text{A}\text{?}{}^3$, Z = 2, space group C2. The analogous compound Cu₄NiGe₂S₇ is isotypic. At a Neél temperature T_N = 20.2 K, Cu₄NiSi₂S₇ becomes antiferromagnetic. The magnetic moment of the paramagnetic phase is 2.6μ_B.