High‐pressure X‐ray diffraction studies of ThS2, US2 and other AnX2 and AnXY compounds

The crystal structure of ThS2 and US2 has been investigated up to 60 GPa using X‐ray powder diffraction. The bulk modulus is 195(15) GPa for ThS2 and 155(20) GPa for US2. A pressure‐induced phase transformation occurs at about 50 GPa for ThS2 and 10–15 GPa for US2. The structure of the high‐pressure phase remains to be determined. Comparisons are made with other AnX2 and AnXY compounds.