Brillouin-scattering study of the elastic constants of ErVO4

The room-temperature elastic constants of ErVO4 were considerably smaller than those of isostructural silicate and phosphate analogs. The generally less-rigid crystalline lattice and weaker metal-oxygen bond-strength in the RVO4 (R = rare earth elements) phases indicates that these materials are of interest for potential applications as an interphase component in toughened oxide ceramic composites.