Isomorphic substitution of neodymium and gadolinium for calcium in synthetic hydroxovanadate

Isomorphic substitution of neodymium and gadolinium for calcium in synthetic hydroxovanadate Ca_{5 ? x} M _x (VO₄)₃(OH)_{1 ? x} O _x (M = Nd, Gd) is studied in the range 700–1000°C using X-ray powder diffraction, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Rietveld technique), and IR spectroscopy. Single-phase solid solutions at 800°C are formed with x ≤ 0.35 for M(III) = Nd and x ≤ 0.3 for M(III) = Gd. With high x, the apatite solid solution coexists with Ca₃(VO₄)₂, Nd₂O₃, and X phases. With increasing x in the homogeneous region, the intensity of the bands of stretching vibrations and librations of OH groups decrease. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that neodymium and gadolinium substitute for calcium in solid solutions mostly in Ca(2) positions.