Kanatzidisite: A Natural Compound with Distinctive van der Waals Heterolayered Architecture

Abstract

New minerals have long been a source of inspiration for the design and discovery. Many quantum materials, including superconductors, quantum spin liquids, and topological materials, have been unveiled through mineral samples with unusual structure types. In this report, we present kanatzidisite, a new naturally occurring material with formula [BiSbS3]2[Te2] and monoclinic symmetry (space group of P21/m) with lattice parameters a = 4.0021(5) Å, b = 3.9963(5) Å, c = 21.1009(10) Å, and β = 95.392(3)°. The mineral exhibits a unique structure consisting of alternating BiSbS3 double van der Waals layers and distorted [Te] square nets essentially forming an array of parallel zigzag Te chains. Our theoretical calculations suggest that the band structure of kanatzidisite may exhibit topological features characteristic of a Dirac semimetal.