Terbium phosphide is an inorganic compound of terbium and phosphorus with the chemical formula TbP.
Synthesis TbP can be obtained by the reaction of terbium and red phosphorus at 800–1000 °C: 4 Tb + P4 → 4 TbP
The compound can also be obtained by the reaction of sodium phosphide and anhydrous terbium chloride at 700~800 °C.
Physical properties TbP undergoes a phase transition at 40 GPa from a NaCl-structure to a CsCl-structure. The compound can be sintered with zinc sulfide to make a green phosphor layer.
TbP forms crystals of a cubic system, space group Fm3m.
Uses The compound is a semiconductor used in high power, high frequency applications and in laser diodes and other photo diodes.
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