Systematic and controllable negative, zero, and positive thermal expansion in cubic Zr(1-x)Sn(x)Mo2O8.

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a family of materials, Zr1-xSnxMo2O8 (0 < x < 1), whose isotropic thermal expansion coefficient can be systematically varied from negative to zero to positive values. These materials allow tunable expansion in a single phase as opposed to using a composite system. Linear thermal expansion coefficients, αl, ranging from -7.