Negative Thermal Expansion in Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2SiGeO7

Solid solutions with the composition Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2-xGexO7 and BaZn2Si2-xGexO7 were prepared with different values of x using a conventional mixed oxide route. Both compounds exhibit very different thermal expansion, which is due to the different crystal structures. Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2-xGexO7 solid solutions exhibit the structure of high-temperature BaZn2Si2O7 and show negative thermal expansion, which was proven via high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Up to around x = 1, the crystal structure remains the same. Above this value, the low-temperature phase becomes stable. The Sr-free solid solutions have the crystal structure of low-temperature BaZn2Si2O7 and show also a limited solubility of Ge. These Sr-free compositions show transitions of low-to high-temperature phases, which are shifted to higher temperatures with increasing Ge-concentration.