Compressibility of lattice parameters of several layered compounds

The lattice parameters of AlB2, MgB2 and TiB2 under pressures are determined with a high-energy synchrotron source in a diamond anvil cell. The experimental results indicate that these three compounds have different mechanical behaviour under pressures, TiB2 is the hardest and MgB2 is the softest among the three materials. The phenomena are explained in terms of bonding strength in the crystal. Our results may be helpful for understating the decrease of the superconducting transition temperature of MgB2 under pressures.