Structure and thermal expansion properties of solid solution Nd2−xErxW3O12 (0.0⩽x⩽0.60.0⩽x⩽0.6 and 1.5⩽x⩽2.01.5⩽x⩽2.0)

Solid solutions of Nd2−xErxW3O12 (0.0⩽x⩽0.60.0⩽x⩽0.6 and 1.5⩽x⩽2.01.5⩽x⩽2.0) have been successfully prepared and their structures have been investigated by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. The thermal expansion properties of Nd2−xErxW3O12 (x=0.2x=0.2, 0.4, 1.5, 1.7 and 1.9) were studied with high temperature X-ray diffraction. Positive thermal expansions of compounds Nd2−xErxW3O12 with 0.0⩽x⩽0.60.0⩽x⩽0.6 are found to be anisotropic along the three crystallographic directions where the a-axis expands in the 25–200 °C range and contracts in the 200–800 °C range, while b- and c  -axes show expansion in the whole temperature range. Negative thermal expansion coefficient αlαl of compounds Nd2−xErxW3O12 with 1.5⩽x⩽2.01.5⩽x⩽2.0 becomes more negative from −6.032×10−6−6.032×10−6 to −6.28×10−6−6.28×10−6 °C−1 with the neodymium content increasing.

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