High-Pressure Synthesis of an Alkali Metal–Transition Metal Laves Phase: KAg2

A new C14 Laves phase was synthesized by direct reaction of potassium and silver at high pressure in a diamond anvil cell. The structure was refined by Rietveld analysis on powder diffraction data in the space groupP6₃/mmcto anR_F²value of 0.034. The lattice parameters area=5.589(5) andc=9.476(1). Formation of this phase under pressure is in agreement with predictions based on Miedema's rules. A novel double-sided laser heating system was developed for the synthesis of KAg₂.