Langbeinite Phosphates KPbM2(PO4)3 (M = Cr, Fe): Synthesis, Structure, Thermal Expansion, and Magnetic Properties Investigation

New langbeinite-type phosphates KPbCr2(PO4)(3) and KPbFe2(PO4)(3) are synthesized by solution method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Rietveld refinement reveals that both of the compounds crystallize in the cubic system with P2(1)3 space group, and the calculated lattice parameters for Cr and Fe phases are 9.7332(2) and 9.8325(7) A, respectively. The electron micrographs confirm the crystalline nature of the samples from their surface morphologies. Infrared spectra display the characteristic features of P-O and M-O vibrational bands for both of the phases. Thermal analysis of KPbCr2(PO4)(3) and KPbFe2(PO4)(3) indicates that they are thermally stable up to 1273 K. The axial thermal expansion is studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction between 298 and 1073 K. The average thermal expansion coefficients of KPbCr2(PO4)(3) and KPbFe2(PO4)(3) are identified as 8.9 x 10(-6) and 10.8 x 10(-6) K-1, respectively. Magnetic study reveals both of the compounds follow Curie-Weiss behavior in the higher-temperature region, and antiferromagnetic interactions are dominant.