Thermal expansion of Ag$_{x}$Pb$_{1-x}$S limited semiconductor solid solutions

Single-phase powders of Ag$_{x}$Pb$_{1-x}$S cubic solid solutions with a maximum relative silver content up to $x$ = 0.12 were synthesized from aqueous solutions of lead acetate and silver nitrate in the presence of a sulfidizing agent, complexing and stabilizing agents. Thermal expansion of synthesized semiconductor solid solutions Ag$_{x}$Pb$_{1-x}$S was measured for the first time by dilatometry in the temperature range of 295–580 K. It is shown that the replacement of lead atoms by silver atoms in Ag$_{x}$Pb$_{1-x}$S leads to a small decrease in the thermal expansion coefficient associated with a change in the anharmonicity of atomic oscillations.