Ce3ZnAlS7 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3 space group. Ce(1) is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to one S(3), three equivalent S(1), and three equivalent S(2) atoms. Zn(1) is bonded to six equivalent S(1) atoms to form face-sharing ZnS6 octahedra. Al(1) is bonded in a tetrahedral geometry to one S(3) and three equivalent S(2) atoms. There are three inequivalent S sites. In the first S site, S(1) is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms. In the second S site, S(2) is bonded in a rectangular see-saw-like geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and one Al(1) atom. In the third S site, S(3) is bonded in a distorted tetrahedral geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and one Al(1) atom.
Ce3ZnAlS7 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3 space group. Ce(1) is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to one S(3), three equivalent S(1), and three equivalent S(2) atoms. The Ce(1)-S(3) bond length is 2.91 Å. There are a spread of Ce(1)-S(1) bond distances ranging from 2.89-3.00 Å. There are a spread of Ce(1)-S(2) bond distances ranging from 2.88-3.04 Å. Zn(1) is bonded to six equivalent S(1) atoms to form face-sharing ZnS6 octahedra. There are three shorter (2.45 Å) and three longer (2.77 Å) Zn(1)-S(1) bond lengths. Al(1) is bonded in a tetrahedral geometry to one S(3) and three equivalent S(2) atoms. The Al(1)-S(3) bond length is 2.28 Å. All Al(1)-S(2) bond lengths are 2.26 Å. There are three inequivalent S sites. In the first S site, S(1) is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms. In the second S site, S(2) is bonded in a rectangular see-saw-like geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and one Al(1) atom. In the third S site, S(3) is bonded in a distorted tetrahedral geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) and one Al(1) atom.