Synthesis and some properties of new zinc and rare-earth metal tungstates ZnRE4W3O16

A new series of zinc and rare-earth metal tungstates with the formula ZnRE4W3O16 were synthesized by a solid-state reaction between RE2WO6, where RE = Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho and ZnWO4 mixed at the molar ratio 2:12:1. The obtained compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic system. ZnRE4W3O16 compounds melt incongruently or decompose in the solid state above 1250 °C.