Mössbauer studies on some glasses and crystals in the Na2O---Fe2O3---SiO2 system

Mössbauer absorption measurements have been made at room temperature on ⁵⁷Fe in iron sodium silicate glasses containing 3–15 mol% Fe₂O₃ and various iron alkali silicate crystals in order to study the state of iron in these glasses. The spectra of all the glasses gave one doublet with a quadrupole splitting varying from 0.73–0.78 mm s⁻¹, while those of Na₂O · Fe₂O₃ · 4 SiO₂ and 5 Na₂O · Fe₂O₃ · 8 SiO₂ crystals showed much smaller quadrupole splitting, 0.28 mm s⁻¹ and 0.10 mm s⁻¹, respectively, and an asymmetrical doublet of much narrower linewidth. When sodium was replaced by other alkali metals of larger size, such as K and Cs, in MFeSi₂O₆ and MFeSi₃O₈ crystals, the quadrupole splitting became wider and approached to 0.73 mm s⁻¹. Such a variation was not observed for glasses. These results suggest that a larger number of non-identical sites exist in iron sodium silicate glasses than in the corresponding crystals.     

Static B NMR studies of the short range order in alkali metal modified B2S3 glasses

The ¹¹B NMR spectra of xRb₂S+(1−x)B₂S₃ glasses in the range 0x0.75 and of xCs₂S+(1−x)B₂S₃ glasses in the range 0x0.60 are reported. The addition of Rb₂S to B₂S₃ creates on average approximately two and one-half tetrahedral borons for each added sulfur ion, whereas it is found that the addition of Cs₂S creates approximately 2 tetrahedral borons for each added sulfur ion. This behavior while more similar to that seen in the alkali borate glasses, contrasts that seen in the Na and K thioborate glasses, where six to eight and three, respectively, tetrahedral borons are formed for every sulfide anion added to the glass. These findings are supported by the IR and ¹¹B NMR spectra of the di-thioborate polycrystals (c-Rb₂S:2B₂S₃ and c-Cs₂S:2B₂S₃) whose structures appear to be comprised of two BS₄ tetrahedrals and two BS₃ trigonals (N₄0.5) like that in the alkali di-borate phases for both Rb and Cs. Unlike the ¹¹B NMR resonances of the sodium thioborate glasses where a single sharp line is observed for the tetrahedral boron site and a single quadrupolar broadened line is observed for all the trigonal sites, a third resonance line is observed at high alkali fractions for the rubidium and cesium thioborate glasses. This new structural feature may arise from asymmetric MBS₂ (meta-thioborate groups) or tetrahedral boron groups possessing a non-bridging sulfur.     

Influence of the mixed alkali effect on the chemical durability of Na2O---TiO2---SiO2 glasses

The influence of the mixed alkali effect on the chemical durability of Na₂O---TiO₂---SiO₂ glasses during substitution of K₂O for Na₂O in 21Na₂O---26TiO₂---53SiO₂ glasses was investigated. The best chemical durability was found at K₂O/Na₂O = 2.5 where the minimum was close to K⁺ ions of larger size. It was shown that the water corrosion process of the system was predominantly controlled by both the mobility and the exchange function of K⁺ ions resulting in the generation of a titanium-rich and silicon-rich layer at the surface. The mixed alkali effect can therefore be applied to lower the rate of water corrosion and increase chemical durability so that optical glasses with higher chemical durability can be obtained.     

Raman spectrum studies of the glasses in the system Na2O---Al2O3---P2O5

Raman spectra of ternary sodium aluminosphosphate glasses indicate that for glasses with Al₂O₃/P₂O₅<0.63, the glass network is mainly built up of (PO₃)_n^n- chains and rings or different kinds of phosphate groups and AlO₄ tetrahedra; for glasses with Al₂O₃/P₂O₅>0.63, the glass network is mainly built up of AlPO₄ groups.     

Raman spectroscopic study on the structure of ZnCl2---ZnX2 and ZnCl2---KX (X = Br, I) glasses

Raman spectra have been measured for ZnCl₂---ZnX₂ and ZnCl₂---KX (X = Br, I) glasses to investigate the structure of the glasses with varying composition. The assignment of each band was made, and the change of the spectra with composition was explained in terms of the bridging and non-bridging states of halide ions and the change of the tetrahedral units, ZnX_nCl_4−n²⁻ (n = 0–4), formed in the glasses. As the content of ZnX₂ in ZnCl₂---ZnX₂ glasses increases (20 → 80 mol%), the peak frequency of the Zn---Cl stretching mode increases (238 → 248 cm⁻¹ in X = I glasses, 238 → 259 cm⁻¹ in X = Br glasses) while the Zn---I and Zn---Br stretching frequencies decrease (173 → 120 cm⁻¹ for Zn---I, 196 → 157 cm⁻¹ for Zn---Br). The decrease of the Zn---I and Zn---Br band frequencies was attributed to the increase of the number n of the ZnX_nCl_4−n²⁻ tetrahedra. The increase of the Zn---Cl frequency suggests the existence of the bonding state of Cl⁻ ions which is intermediate between the bridging and the non-bridging states. In ZnCl₂---KX glasses, the Zn---Cl_non-bridging band at about 300 cm⁻¹ was observed in addition to the bands observed in ZnCl₂---ZnX₂ glasses. The addition of KX produces non-bridging anions while the tetrahedral units, ZnX_nCl_4−n²⁻ are also formed.     

Properties and structure of RO---Na2O---Al2O3---P2O5 (R = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) glasses

The properties and structure of (45 - x)RO · xNa₂O · 2.5Al₂O₃ · 52.5P₂O₅ (R = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, 0 x 31 mol%) glasses were investigated. The variation in the molar volumes of glasses in the MgO series is closely related to the formation of the end groups in the glasses with the substitution of Na⁺ ions for Mg²⁺ ions, resulting in a variation of the density and refractive index of the glasses. The properties of glasses containing CaO in terms of Na₂O substitution depend mainly on the low field strength of Na⁺ ions substituting for CaO even though the end groups occurring in the glasses increased. The variation in properties of the glasses containing SrO and BaO, some of which were substituted by Na₂O, could be explained by differences in masses, field strength and polarizability between the Na⁺ ions and the alkaline-earth ions due to a small variation in the structure of the glasses despite Na₂O substitution.     

Ionic conduction in As2S3---Ag2S, GeS2---GeS---Ag2S and P2S5---Ag2S glasses

The glass-forming region in the system P---S---Ag was determined and density, thermal expansion, dc conductivity and the transport number of Ag ions were measured for P₂S₅---Ag₂S glasses found in the P---S---Ag system. The results for the transport number measurement show that P₂S₅---Ag₂S glasses are purely ionic conductors owing to the Ag ion migration, like most of the As₂S₃---Ag₂S and GeS₂---GeS---Ag₂S glasses reported previously. Glass structure and ionic conduction processes in As₂S₃---Ag₂S, GeS₂---GeS---Ag₂S and P₂S₅---Ag₂S glasses are discussed, based on their ionic conductivity and density data. The structural concept of -Ag₂S was applied to these glasses, which suggests that the Ag ions in the glasses are distributed in the available Ag ion sites in the non-conducting framework composed of both S anions and As, Ge or P cations. In each system the ionic conductivity increases linearly with increasing Ag⁺/total cation (%) in glass composition, the determining factor being the activation energy for ionic conduction alone. Thus, the activation energy in these glasses depends predominantly upon the molar ratio of Ag ions to total cation in the glass, irrespective of the kind of system. Small differences in the activation energy among the three systems can be interpreted as arising from differences in the field strength of As, Ge and P cations.     

Structure and properties of glasses in the MI + M2S + (0.1Ga2S3 + 0.9GeS2), M = Li, Na, K and Cs, system

The structure and properties of glasses in the MI + M₂S + (0.1Ga₂S₃ + 0.9GeS₂), M = Li, Na, K and Cs, system were studied using Raman, IR spectroscopy, DSC and density measurements to help better understand the ionic transport in these glasses. The glass forming ranges of these ternary glasses were compared to those of the binary alkali sulfide and germanium sulfide systems. The more extensive glass forming range in the Na₂S system was used to examine the more extensive changes of structure and properties of these glasses as a function of Na₂S content. As expected, non-bridging sulfurs (NBS) form with the addition of alkali sulfide. Unlike their oxide counterparts, however, the alkali sulfide doped glasses appear to support longer-range super-structural units. For example, evidence that the adamantine-like structure exists in the K₂S and Cs₂S modified glasses is found in the Raman spectra of the glasses. The structural role of the alkali iodide addition was also explored since the addition of alkali iodide helps to improve the conductivity. For most of these glasses, as observed in many other oxide glasses, the added MI dissolves interstitially into the glass structure network without changing the alkali sulfide network structure. In 0.6Na₂S + 0.4(0.1Ga₂S₃ + 0.9GeS₂) glasses, however, the added NaI may affect the glass structure as it causes systematic changes in the frequency of the Ge-S network mode as seen in the Raman spectra.     

Some characteristics of glass in the Al2O3---B2O3---SiO2 system from the gel

The colorless and transparent glasses in the Al₂O₃---B₂O₃---SiO₃ system with high B₂O₃ and SiO₂ content were prepared from gels at low temperature. Their IR spectra not only revealed the evolution of the gel to glass conversion, but also showed that the formation of mixed bonds in the glasses obtained did not show any effect due to the B₂O₃ content. The accuracy of the glass composition is dependent upon the SiO₂/B₂O₃ molar ratio. The higher the ratio, the less the deviation of the analyzed compositions of the resulting glasses from their original calculated values. It is obvious that the higher the ratio, the lower the thermal expansion coefficient and the higher the transformation temperature of the glass, and the temperature at which the thermal contraction reaches an equilibrium is higher.     

Glass formation, properties and structure of glasses in the P2O5---WO3---K2O---Al2O3 system

Glass formation in the P₂O₅---WO₃---K₂O---Al₂O₃ system was investigated and the glass-forming regions are presented.

the properties of the glasses in the P₂O₅---WO₃---K₂O---Al₂O₃ system (Al₂O₃ 8 mol.%) are reported.

The colouration of glass was studied. It was found that W⁵⁺ ions make glass blue.

Infrared spectra were measured by means of making KBr pills. Results of the investigation suggest that P---O---P, P---O---W, and W---O---W bonds form a continuous network in the phosphate glasses. So we suggest that tungsten trioxide is a glass former.     

Glass formation and optical properties of glasses in the systems (R2O or R''O)-Ta2O5---Ga2O3

Gallate glasses containing no conventional glass formers were obtained in the systems (Na₂O, K₂O or Cs₂O)-Ta₂O₅---Ga₂O₃ and (Sr or BaO)-Ta₂O₅---Ga₂O₃ by an ordinary crucible-melting technique. The glasses showed high optical transmission in the infrared as well as in the visible region. Infrared spectroscopic analysis suggested that the Ga³⁺ ions are tetrahedrally coordinated in the glasses. The glass-forming tendency of the melt and the infrared transmission of the glasses are discussed in terms of the glass structure.     

Optical absorption and elastic properties of Li2O---(LiCl)2---B2O3---Al2O3 glasses

Ultraviolet transmission, densities, and supersonic velocities of the Li₂O---(LiCl)₂---B₂O₃---Al₂O₃ glasses were measured. Adiabatic compressibilities of all these glasses were calculated. The results were interpreted from the viewpoint of the glass structure.     

NMR studies of Na2O---B2O3---SiO2 glasses of mid-alkali content

¹¹B Fourier transform spectra have been used to study the structure of Na₂O---B₂O₃---SiO₂ glasses of mid-alkali content. Based on the measurements of the fraction N₄ of four-coordinated borons, it has been found that for K = mol.% SiO₂/mol.% B₂O₃ 8 and R = mol.% Na₂O/mol.% B₂O₃ = 1, N₄ is obviously smaller than 1 rather than equal to 1 as assumed in the relevant literature. Only when R reaches a value appropriately greater than 1, can the case where N₄ = 1 occur. A structural model suggested in this paper can satisfactorily explain the fact.     

Structural investigation of SnO-B2O3 glasses by solid-state NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Local structure of the SnO-B₂O₃ glasses was investigated using several spectroscopic techniques. ¹¹B MAS-NMR spectra suggested that BO₄ tetrahedral units maximized at around the composition with 50 mol% SnO. The BO₄ units were still present at compositions with high SnO content (67 mol% SnO), suggesting that SnO acted not only as a network modifier but also as a network former. O1s photoelectron spectra revealed that the addition of small amounts of SnO formed non-bridging oxygens (NBO) (B-O?Sn) and the amounts of NBO increased with an increase in SnO content. ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectra indicated that Sn was present only as Sn(II) in the glasses. The structure of the SnO-B₂O₃ glasses was compared with that of conventional alkali borate glasses and lead borate glasses. The thermal and viscous properties of these glasses were discussed on the basis of the glass structure revealed in the present study.     

Structure and properties of the pure and Pr-doped Ge25Ga5Se70 and Ge30Ga5Se65 glasses

The Ge₂₅Ga₅Se₇₀ and Ge₃₀Ga₅Se₆₅ pure and Pr³⁺-doped glasses were prepared by direct synthesis from elements and PrCl₃. It was found that up to 1 mol% PrCl₃ can be introduced in the Ge₂₅Ga₅Se₇₀ and Ge₃₀Ga₅Se₆₅ glasses. Both types of glasses with overstoichiometric and substoichiometric content of Se were homogeneous and of black color. The optical energy gap is E^opt_g=2.10 eV, and the glass transition temperature is T_g=543 K for Ge₂₅Ga₅Se₇₀ and T_g=633 K for Ge₃₀Ga₅Se₆₅. The long-wavelength absorption edge is near 14 μm and it corresponds to multiphonon processes. Doping by Pr³⁺ ions creates absorption bands in transmission spectra, which can be assigned to the electron transitions from the ground ³H₄ level to the higher energy levels of Pr³⁺ ions ³H₅, ³H₆, ³F₂, ³F₃ and ³F₄, respectively. By excitation with YAG:Nd laser line (1064 nm), two intense luminescence bands (1343 and 1601 nm) were excited. The first band can be ascribed to electron transitions between ¹G₄ and ³H₅ energy levels of Pr³⁺ ions. Full width at half of maximum (FWHM) of the intensity of luminescence was found to be 70 nm for (Ge₂₅Ga₅Se₇₀)_1 − x(PrCl₃)_x and (Ge₃₀Ga₅Se₆₅)_1 − x(PrCl₃)_x glasses. The FWHM in selenide glasses is lower than in halide and sulphide glasses. The second luminescence band (1601 nm) can be probably ascribed to the transitions between ³F₃ and ³H₄ energy levels of Pr³⁺ ions. The absorption and luminescence spectra of Pr³⁺ ions in studied glasses are slightly influenced by stoichiometry of glassy matrix. The Raman spectra of studied glasses were deconvoluted and assignment of Raman bands to individual vibration modes of basic structural units was suggested. The structure of studied glasses is mainly formed by corner-sharing and edge-sharing GeSe₄ tetrahedra. The vibration modes of Ga-containing structural units were not found, they are apparently overlapping with Ge-containing structural units due to small difference between atomic weights of Ge and Ga. In the glasses with substoichiometry of Se, the Ge–Ge bonds of Ge₂Se₆ structural units were found. In Se-rich glasses the Se–Se vibration modes were found. In all studied glasses also ‘wrong' bonds between like atoms were found in small amounts. Maximum phonon energy of studied glasses is 320 cm⁻¹.     

Glass formation and crystallization in the ZrO2---Al2O3---P2O5 system

The glass formation of the ZrO₂---Al₂O₃---P₂O₅ system in the high phosphate region is determined. The crystallization process and the crystal types formed during heat treatment have been studied. The structure of these glasses is discussed.     

The short-range order in ternary ZrF4---BaF2---ErF3 glasses

The short-range order structures in ternary ZrF₄---BaF₂---ErF₃ glasses have been studied by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). The near-neighbor structures around Zr, Ba and Er have been determined and compared with that in binary ZrF₄---BaF₂ glasses. The near-neighbor structures around Zr and Ba are scarcely affected by doping with ErF₃. The structural parameters of near neighbors around Er in the glasses are near to that in ErF₃, but the corresponding distance and coordination number of near neighbors in the glasses decrease slightly. It is also observed that the intensities of the white lines at the Er L and L absorption edges in these glasses are different from that in c-ErF₃. Meanwhile, compared with that of the corresponding fluoride, the changes of the ‘white line’ at the Er L_,-edges in the glasses differ from the case of Nd. The causes leading to these differences are discussed.     

Study of electrical properties of MoO3–Fe2O3–P2O5 and SrO–Fe2O3–P2O5 glasses by impedance spectroscopy. II

The electrical and dielectric properties for three series of MoO₃–Fe₂O₃–P₂O₅ and one series of SrO–Fe₂O₃–P₂O₅ glasses were measured by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 0.01 Hz to 3 MHz and over the temperature range from 303 to 473 K. It was shown in Part I that the MoO₃ is incorporated into phosphate network and the structure/properties are strongly influenced by the overall O/P ratio. The Fe₂O₃ content and Fe(II)/Fe_tot ratio in these glasses have significant effects on the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity. With decreasing Fe₂O₃ content in MoO₃–Fe₂O₃–P₂O₅ glasses with O/P at 3.5 the dc conductivity, σ_dc(ω) decreases for two orders of magnitude, which indicates that the conductivity for these glasses depends on Fe₂O₃ and is independent of the MoO₃ content. Also, the dielectric properties such as ^′(ω), ^″(ω) and σ_ac(ω) and their variation with frequency and temperature indicates a decrease in relaxation intensity with increase in the concentration of MoO₃. On the other hand, the dc conductivity for MoO₃–Fe₂O₃–P₂O₅ glasses with O/P > 3.5 increases with the substitution of MoO₃ which has been explained by an increase in the number of non-bridging oxygens and formation of Fe–O–P bonds that are responsible for formation of small polarons. The increase in the dielectric permittivity, ^′(ω) with increasing MoO₃ content is attributed to the increase in the deformation of glass network with increasing bonding defects. For SrO–Fe₂O₃–P₂O₅ glasses the conductivity and dielectric permittivity remained constant with increasing SrO.     

Bond character and properties of the mixed alkali system Na2OK2OAl2O3SiO2

The mixed alkali glass system Na₂OK₂OAl₂O₃SiO₂ was investigated. Density, transformation temperature, refractive index, and chemical durability were studied. Optical absorption and ESR spectra of the CuO-doped glasses were determined.Calculations of the polarizability of O^2?, bonding parameters of the Cu²⁺ complex, and the packing density are presented. It was found that for the mixed alkali glasses, the oxygen- alkali bond has a more ionic character than expected from additivity. This fact enables the non-linear changes of the refractive index, of the shift of the Cu²⁺ absorption band, and of the covalency to be interpreted as the Na mole fraction is varied. It is also possible to explain qualitatively the density, T_g and chemical durability non-linear variations with change of the Na content by the ionicity deviations of the bond character and the postulated pairs of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions in the mixed alkali glasses.     

Effect of Si3N4 on chemical durability of chalcogenide glass

Chemical durability of the Si₃N₄ doped (up to 0.5 wt%) chalconitride glasses was evaluated by weight losses of glass samples after immersion in deionized water, H₂SO₄, HCl and NaOH solutions. IR spectra and SEM were used as an aid to examine the surface structure of corroded glass samples. Weight loss measurements showed a poorer stability of non-oxide glasses in basic solution than in acid solution, and the Si₃N₄ doping was found to improve chemical durability. Comparison of IR spectra of samples exposed to the basic solution with their original ones suggested the higher content of OH⁻ in its reaction layers, indicating that the corrosion of the present non-oxide glasses in the basic solution may result from the breakdown of the bridging Se due to an attack launched by OH⁻. The SEM evidence confirmed that Si₃N₄ doping did hinder the OH⁻ attacks on Ge and/or As, which is most likely related to incorporation of the three-coordinated N into the glass network, as supported by a comparison of the IR transmitting spectrum between uncorroded chalconitride glass and undoped chalcogenide glass.