Structural properties of the thermoelectric material CuCrS2 and of deintercalated CuxCrS2 on different length scales

We report on the structural alterations of the thermoelectric material CuCrS2 introduced by the removal of 1/3 of the Cu+ ions which are located between CrS2 layers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pair distribution function (PDF) analyses revealed a newly formed Cu0.66CrS2 phase with monoclinic symmetry and a 3a superstructure. Simultaneously, a distortion of CrS6 octahedra is observed strongly indicating the oxidation of Cr3+ RT Cr4+ leading to a Jahn-Teller distortion. The structural features extracted from XRD indicate a pronounced disorder in the cationic sub-lattice at moderate temperatures (400 K). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination elucidates the formation of a second Cu0.66CrS2 phase without the superstructure, caused by incipient Cu+ mobility upon beam irradiation. The synergetic combination of high temperature XRD and TEM investigations unveiled the complete mechanism of the phase transition occurring at 503 K, where a transformation into the spinel CuCr2S4 and stoichiometric CuCrS2 occurs.