High substitution of Fe3+ for Zr4+ in ZrV1.6P0.4O7 with small amount of FeV0.8P0.2O4 for low thermal expansion

Fe³⁺-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ with Fe:Zr molar ratios of 1:9, 2:8, 3:7 and 4:6 was synthesized to reduce phase transition and obtain low thermal expansion. It is shown that the phase transition temperature of Fe-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ is reduced obviously with increasing the content of Fe. Fe³⁺ ion with lower valence and smaller radius than that of Zr⁴⁺ favors to extend the bond angle of V-O-V(P) close to 180° in ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇, which is considered responsible for the normal structure at room temperature and low thermal expansion. The thermal expansion coefficients of Fe-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ for Fe:Zr molar ratios from 1:9 to 4:6 are calculated to be from - 4.33 ×10^-6 to 5.2 ×10^-7 K^-1 by linear thermal expansion measurement. The effect of small amount of FeV_0.8P_0.2O₄ formation with higher content of Fe³⁺ on thermal expansion coefficients of the samples is discussed.