Synthesis and Characterization of K and Eu Binary Phosphides

Abstract

The synthesis, structural characterization, and optical properties of the binary Zintl phases of α-EuP3, β-EuP3, EuP2, and α-K4P6 are reported in this study. These crystal structures demonstrate the versatility of P fragments with dimensionality varying from 0D (P6 rings in α-K4P6) to 1D chains (EuP2) to 2D layers (both EuP3). EuP2 is isostructural to previously reported SrP2 and BaP2 compounds. The thermal stabilities of the EuP2 and both EuP3 phases were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), with melting temperatures of 1086 K for the diphosphide and 1143 K for the triphosphides. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated that EuP2 is an indirect semiconductor with a direct bandgap of 1.12(5) eV and a smaller indirect one, less than 1 eV. Both EuP3 compounds had bandgaps smaller than 1 eV.