Crystal structure of YbD2 and its temperature dependence determined by neutron diffraction

Abstract Neutron diffraction investigations were used to study a pure powder sample of YbD 1.98(1) in the temperature range 8–293 K. YbD 1.98 crystallizes in the orthorhombic PbCl 2 structure (space group, Pnma ; atom positions 4c ( x, 1 4 , z )) similar to CaD 2 . Neither structural nor magnetic phase transitions occur in the temperature range investigated, thus confirming the diamagnetism of Yb 2+ in YbH 2 reported in Mossbauer studies.