Structural properties of the sesquicarbide superconductor La2C3 at high pressure

TL;DR

This study investigates how high pressure affects the structural stability of the superconductor La2C3, revealing it maintains its cubic structure up to 30 GPa and providing detailed pressure-volume data.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed high-pressure structural analysis of La2C3, including its equation of state and phase stability insights.

Findings

La2C3 remains cubic up to 30 GPa

Equation of state parameters are reported

Pressure-volume data for LaC2 impurity phase

Abstract

The effect of pressure on the structural properties of lanthanum sesquicarbide La2C3 (T_c = 13 K) has been investigated at room temperature by angle-dispersive powder x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. The compound remains in the cubic Pu2C3-type structure at pressures up to at least 30 GPa. The corresponding equation of state parameters are reported and discussed in terms of phase stability of La2C3. Pressure-volume data of the impurity phase LaC2 are reported also for pressures up to 13 GPa.