Phase Behaviour of CoCl2-MnCl2 Mixed Crystals

Thermal properties of CoCl2, MnCl2 and their mixed crystals are investigated by means of temperature dependent neutron powder diffraction and time-resolved small angle neutron scattering. The coefficients of thermal expansion of these crystals have been determined as a function of temperature. The temperature-induced structural variations can be explained by distortions of CoCl5/MnCl6 octahedra and changes in Co/Mn-Cl bond lengths. CoCl2 and MnCl2 form homogeneous solid solutions in the entire temperature range between the solidus and 50 K. There is no indication of any miscibility gap as predicted from thermodynamic calculations.