Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Colloidal Dispersions of Vanadium Tetrasulfide (VS 4 )

Although many of the layered metal chalcogenides, such as MoS 2 , are well‐studied, some other chalcogenides have received less attention by comparison. In particular, there has been an emerging interest in vanadium tetrasulfide (VS 4 ), which displays useful properties as a component of hybrids. However, the synthetic methods and characteristics of individual VS 4 are not yet well defined, and there is no report on its solution processability. Here we have synthesized VS 4 by a simple and fast direct reaction between elements. Reinvestigation of the VS 4 crystal structure yielded more precise atomic coordinates and interatomic distances, thereby confirming the crystallization of VS 4 in the monoclinic C 2/ c group and its quasi‐1D chainlike structure. As the chains in VS 4 are only bonded by weak van der Waals forces, we further demonstrate that bulk VS 4 may be ultrasonically dispersed in appropriate solvents to form colloids, similarly to the layered chalcogenides. VS 4 particles in colloids retain their phase identity and rod‐shaped morphology with lengths in the range of hundreds of nanometers. Isopropanol dispersion exhibited the highest concentration and stability, which was achieved owing to the repulsion caused by high negative charges on the edges of the particles.