Ba2Sb4GeS10.

The title quaternary compound, dibarium tetra-anti-mony germanium deca-sulfide, Ba2Sb4GeS10, crystallizes in a novel three-dimensional ∞ (3)[Sb4GeS10](4-) network structure, which is composed of triangular pyramidal SbS3 (site symmetry m..), distorted SbS5 (m..) polyhedra and regular GeS4 (-4..) tetra-hedra. The SbS3 and SbS5 units are connected with each other through corner- and edge-sharing, forming a Sb4S10 layer in the ab plane. The GeS4 tetra-hedra further bridge two neighbouring Sb4S10 layers, forming a three-dimensional ∞ (3)[Sb4GeS10](4-) network. The Ba(2+) cation (..2) is located between two Sb4S10 layers and is coordinated by ten S atoms with Ba-S bond lengths in the range 3.2505†(9)-3.4121†(2)†à .