Preparation of NaGdS2 via thermolysis of Gd[S2CN(C4H8)]3-phen complexes and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate mixtures

A novel, simple thermolysis method is adopted to prepare alkali metal rare earth ternary sulphide NaGdS2 using Gd(S2CNEt2)3-phen complexes and NaS2CNEt2·3H2O mixtures as precursors in a nitrogen atmosphere at 600–1000 °C. The obtained NaGdS2 presents a microrod morphology with an average diameter of 112 nm, average length of 236 nm, and length diameter ratio of 2.1. Furthermore, the as-prepared NaGdS2 has excellent transmission over a very wide range of wavelengths (>430 nm) and may be an ideal IR window material.