Lanthanoid-nickel-phosphides with ThCr2Si2-type structure

The new compounds YNi₂P₂ and LnNi₂P₂ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) were prépared by sintering the elemental components in silica tubes. Well-developed crystals were obtained using tin as a flux. They crystallize with the ThCr₂Si₂ (CeGa₂Al₂)-type structure which was refined from single-crystal X-ray data for EuNi₂P₂ to a conventional R value of 0.049 for 118 unique structure factors. While the P atoms in formally isotypic EuCo₂P₂ are isolated from each other, they form pairs in EuNi₂P₂. This results in a different $\text{c}\text{a}$ ratio and an entirely different bonding situation. A comparison of cell volumes shows that Eu in EuNi₂P₂ has an intermediate valence.