Preparation of Co2-xZnxMo3O8 mixed crystals with defined composition by chemical vapour transport

Phase-pure powder samples of Co2-xZnxMo3O8 mixed crystals were prepared by solid state reactions in evacuated quartz tubes at 1273 K. The lattice parameter were refined from X-ray powder pattern by the Rietveld method. A small but significant change of the lattice parameter of Co2-xZnxMo3O8 as a function of the zinc content was observed, thus confirming the existence of a complete solid solution series. Single crystals of Co2-xZnxMo3O8 were grown by means of chemical vapour transport in a temperature gradient 1273 K to 1173 K using NH4Cl or NH4Br as transport agent starting from a source material with a small oxygen excess, corresponding to a formal composition "Co2-xZnx-Mo3O8.1". The Co/Zn ratio of the obtained Co2-xZnxMo3O8 single crystals was investigated using EDX measurements.

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