Solid solutions of were prepared using the sealed tube iodine transport method. The initial charge was iodine, powdered , and powdered . These powders were ground and treated with aqueous hydrochloric acid to remove the damaged layers. The resulting solid solutions were more homogeneous than other such series of solid solutions which are described in the literature. Polycrystalline sound masses as well as single crystals with reproducible and predictable compositions can be produced using these treated powders.