Thermal Expansion in the Zr and 1-, 2-valent Complex Phosphates of NaZr2(PO4)3 (NZP) Structure

Abstract

A5–4xZrxZr(PO4)3 (A=Na, K;0≤x≤1.25), Na1-xCd0.5xZr2(PO4)3 (0≤x≤1), Na5–xCd0.5xZr(PO4)3 (0≤x≤4) compositions which belong to the NZP structural family were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The lattice thermal expansion of members of these rows were determined up to 600°C by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. The axial thermal expansion coefficients change from -5.8·10-6to 7.5·10-6 °C-1 (αa) and from 2.6·10–6 to 22·10–6 °C-1 (αc). These results, in addition to those for other NZP compounds allow us to explain their low thermal expansion. The mechanism can be attributed to strongly bonded three-dimensional network structure, the existence of structural holes capable to damp some of the thermal vibrations and anisotropyin the thermal expansion of the lattice.