Tris(benzylthiolato)bismuth. Efficient Precursor to Phase-Pure Polycrystalline Bi(2)S(3).

Details of the synthesis, physical and spectroscopic characterization, and thermal decomposition of tris(benzylthiolato)bismuth, (BnS)(3)Bi, Bn = CH(2)C(6)H(5), are presented. Results from pyrolysis of (BnS)(3)Bi demonstrate that this compound is a convenient precursor to phase-pure, polycrystalline Bi(2)S(3) with low carbon and hydrogen contamination under mild thermal conditions (ca. 275 degrees C). Flow-tube pyrolysis produces small ( approximately 1 &mgr;m) spherical particles, whereas sealed-tube pyrolysis produces 6-&mgr;m diameter spherical particles composed of radiating acicular crystallites. Bi(2)S(3) was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.