Structural properties of the sesquicarbide superconductor La2C3 at high pressure

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.