Lanthanum diiodide is an iodide of lanthanum, with the chemical formula of LaI<sub>2</sub>. It is an electride, actually having a chemical formula of La<sup>3+</sup>[(I<sup>âÂÂ</sup>)<sub>2</sub>e<sup>âÂÂ</sup>].
Lanthanum diiodide can be obtained from the reduction of lanthanum(III) iodide with lanthanum metal under a vacuum at 800 to 900 ðC:
It can also be obtained by reacting lanthanum and mercury(II) iodide:
It was first created by John D. Corbett in 1961.
Lanthanum diiodide is a blue-black solid with metallic lustre, which is easily hydrolyzed into the iodide oxide. It has a MoSi<sub>2</sub>-type structure, with the space group I4/mmm (No. 139).