Convenient synthesis of lanthanide and mixed lanthanide phosphides by solid-state routes involving sodium phosphide

Thermolysis (700–800 °C) of a mixture of sodium phosphide (Na3P) and anhydrous lanthanide chlorides produces lanthanide phosphides and sodium chloride via a solid-state metathesis reaction. Mixing lanthanide halides (HoCl3, TbCl3; NdCl3, PrCl3; CeBr3, TbCl3) and Na3P followed by thermolysis produces mixed lanthanide phosphides LnXLnyP. The lanthanide phosphides were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, SEM, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) magnetic-moment measurements, FTIR, microanalysis and solid-state 31P NMR.