Single crystals of
solid solutions of HoFe3–x
Ga
x
(BO3)4 with x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 3 were obtained
using flux synthesis. The conditions of the synthesis are described
in detail. The structural properties of each of the synthesized samples
were studied using X-ray powder diffraction analysis at several temperature
points (303, 403, and 503 K). The structural parameters of the obtained
samples and the “pure” compounds HoFe3(BO3)4 and HoGa3(BO3)4 were compared. The Raman spectra of the obtained solid solutions
HoFe3–x
Ga
x
(BO3)4 were studied in a wide temperature
range (T = 10–400 K). The vibrational spectra
and eigenvectors of the HoFe3Ga(BO3)4 and HoGa3(BO3)4 in R32 phase and HoFe3Ga(BO3)4 in P3121 phase were calculated within density functional
theory. The features of the Raman spectra of HoFe2Ga(BO3)4, HoFe2.5Ga0.5(BO3)4, HoFe3(BO3)4 crystals
associated with the R32 → P3121 structural phase transition, which have a strong
dependence on the degree of substitution x, were
investigated. Peculiarities of the Raman spectra, which are associated
with magnetic ordering in HoFe1.5Ga1.5(BO3)4, HoFe2Ga(BO3)4, and HoFe2.5Ga0.5(BO3)4 crystals, were detected.