Synthesis, Structure and Thermophysical Properties of Phosphates MNi0.5Zr1.5(PO4)3 (M = Mg, Ca, Sr)
<p>New phosphates MNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> (M = Mg, Ca, Sr) were prepared by the precipitating method.<strong><em> </em></strong>Phosphates were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, IR-spectroscopy and electron microprobe analyses. The crystal structure of phosphates was refined by the Rietveld method. Phosphates CaNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> and SrNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> are shown to have been crystallized in the NaZr<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>-type structure and the phosphate MgNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3 </sub>was obtained as a single-phase with Sc<sub>2</sub>(WO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>-type structure. Heat capacity of phosphate CaNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> was measured in the range 7 – 650 K and increased monotonically over the entire temperature range studied. Thermal expansion of phosphate CaNi<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>1.5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> was studied in the interval 295-1073 K by the high temperature X-ray diffraction. This phosphate is similar to the best low-expansion ceramics, such as zircon, cordierite and silica glass in thermal expansion behavior.</p>