This article introduces a method for studying the negative thermal expansion of metal cyanides using variable temperature powder diffraction.
The document details experiments conducted with an Agilent Gemini S Ultra single-crystal CCD diffractometer to study negative thermal expansion (NTE). While the instrument is primarily a single-crystal device, its powder diffraction capability was utilized to analyze metal cyanide compounds that could not be prepared as single crystals. The study focuses on HT-CuCN, AgCN, and AuCN, which contain infinite -(M-C=N)- chains.
The Helijet open flow helium cooling device operates in the 10-100 K range.
The Oxford Instruments Cryojet HT operates in the 90-490 K range.
Each image is collected over 240 seconds.