The Binary Hafnium Phosphide Hf₃P₂

The structure of trihafnium diphosphide, Hf₃P₂, has been redetermined by single-crystal analysis. Hf₃P₂ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62), with a = 10.128 (2), b = 3.5707 (6), c = 9.868 (2) Å, V = 356.87 (12) Å³, in the anti-Sb₂S₃ structure type. The P atoms are situated in singly capped and bicapped trigonal Hf prisms. In contrast to the structure of Zr₁₄P₉, no centered Hf cubes as observed in the bcc packing occur in the structure of Hf₃P₂.

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