Studies on structural and thermal expansion properties of Ho2−x Ln x Mo4O15 (Ln=Er, Sm and Ce) solid solutions

Abstract: Three new series of Ho2−x Er x Mo4O15 (x =0.0–2.0), Ho2−x Sm x Mo4O15 (x =0.0–0.6) and Ho2−x Ce x Mo4O15 (x =0.0–0.25) solid solutions have been prepared successfully by solid-state reaction and studied by powder X-ray diffraction. All the XRD patterns of these molybdates can be indexed in monoclinic space group P21/c. Lattice parameters a, b and c of Ho2−x Ln x Mo4O15 decrease linearly with increasing erbium content and increase with increasing samarium or cerium content. Thermal expansion behaviors of Ho2−x Ln x Mo4O15 have been investigated in the 25–500°C temperature range with high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The temperature dependence of Mo(2)–O14 interaction looks like to be responsible for their thermal expansion behaviors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]