La2(CN2)3 – the missing link of rare-earth carbodiimides, prepared through an efficient synthetic route and its Ce3+ activated photoluminescence

The characterization of La 2 (CN 2 ) 3 and the luminescence of La 2 (CN 2 ) 3 :Ce 3+ are reported. This finding completes the series of rare-earth carbodiimdes with three distinct crystal structures and coordination numbers of cations.