Controllable thermal expansion properties of In2 − xCrxMo3O12

Abstract Solid solutions In 2 − x Cr x Mo 3 O 12 have been prepared via the solid state reaction method. The structural and thermal expansion properties have been characterized using X‐ray diffraction. All compounds exhibit monoclinic structure with space group P2 1 /a at room temperature, and transform to orthorhombic structure at higher temperature. Compounds In 2 − x Cr x Mo 3 O 12 ( x = 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3) possess strong positive thermal expansion in the monoclinic structure, while their thermal expansion coefficients of orthorhombic structure vary from negative to positive with increasing Cr content. It is worthwhile to note that In 1.3 Cr 0.7 Mo 3 O 12 and InCrMo 3 O 12 have near zero thermal expansion properties.