Elastic, magnetic and electronic properties of iridium phosphide Ir2P

Abstract Cubic (space group: Fm "Equation missing" m ) iridium phosphide, Ir 2 P, has been synthesized at high pressure and high temperature. Angle-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements on Ir 2 P powder using a diamond-anvil cell at room temperature and high pressures (up to 40.6 GPa) yielded a bulk modulus of B 0 = 306(6) GPa and its pressure derivative B 0 ′ = 6.4(5). Such a high bulk modulus attributed to the short and strongly covalent Ir-P bonds as revealed by first – principles calculations and three-dimensionally distributed [IrP 4 ] tetrahedron network. Indentation testing on a well–sintered polycrystalline sample yielded the hardness of 11.8(4) GPa. Relatively low shear modulus of ~64 GPa from theoretical calculations suggests a complicated overall bonding in Ir 2 P with metallic, ionic and covalent characteristics. In addition, a spin glass behavior is indicated by magnetic susceptibility measurements.