Superconducting LaRu2P2 and other alkaline earth and rare earth metal ruthenium and osmium phosphides and arsenides with ThCr2Si2 structure

The ThCr₂Si₂-type compounds MRu₂P₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb), MOs₂P₂ (M = Sr, Ba, Eu), and MRu₂As₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, La, Eu) were prepared by sintering techniques and/or by reaction of the elemental components in a tin flux. The crystal structures of SrRu₂P₂ and LaRu₂P₂ were refined from single-crystal diffractometer data to residuals of R = 0.019 (224 structure factors, 11 variable parameters) and R = 0.028 (510 F's, 11 variables), respectively. LaRu₂P₂ is diamagnetic and becomes superconducting at 4.1 K. No transition to a superconducting state was observed down to 1.8 K for the compounds MFe₂P₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, La), MRu₂P₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Y), and MOs₂P₂ (M = Sr, Ba).