Controllable thermal expansion properties of In2 − xCrxMo3O12

Solid solutions In_{2 − x}Cr_xMo₃O₁₂ have been prepared via the solid state reaction method. The structural and thermal expansion properties have been characterized using X‐ray diffraction. All compounds exhibit monoclinic structure with space group P2₁/a at room temperature, and transform to orthorhombic structure at higher temperature. Compounds In_{2 − x}Cr_xMo₃O₁₂ (x = 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3) possess strong positive thermal expansion in the monoclinic structure, while their thermal expansion coefficients of orthorhombic structure vary from negative to positive with increasing Cr content. It is worthwhile to note that In_1.3Cr_0.7Mo₃O₁₂ and InCrMo₃O₁₂ have near zero thermal expansion properties.