Phase Transition and Thermal Expansion of Ba3RB3O9 (R = Sm–Yb, and Y)

Abstract

High temperature powder X-ray diffraction measurements of Ba3RB3O9 (R=Sm–Yb, and Y) were carried out at temperatures ranging from room temperature to just below the corresponding melting temperatures (1,200–1,300 °C). No phase transition was found for the H-type phase (R3‾$\overline 3 $) with R=Sm–Tb and the L-type phase (P63 cm) with R=Tm–Yb. On the other hand, phase transition from the L phase to the H phase was observed for R=Dy–Er, and Y at around 1,100–1,200 °C. The obtained axial thermal expansion coefficient (ATEC) of the a-axis was larger than that of the c-axis for the H phase, and the ATEC of the c-axis was larger than that of the a-axis for the L phase. The observed anisotropic nature of ATEC is attributed to the distribution of the BO3 anionic group with rigid boron–oxygen bonding in the structures of the H and L phases.

Keywords

• borates
• phase transition
• thermal expansion
• x-ray diffraction
• high temperature
• thermal expansion
• 65.40.de
• crystal structure inorganic compounds
• 61.66.fn