Surface studies of electrically conducting ``CsSn2I5''

Single crystals of CsSn ₂I ₅ have been grown in sodium metasilicate gels and identified by X-ray powder and single-crystal diffraction methods. The CsSn ₂I ₅ crystals are good electrical conductors and show unusual photochemical behavior. The nature of these properties has been probed with Auger electron spectroscopy. This paper considers the synthesis, chemical characterization, and surface properties of CsSn ₂I ₅.