Structural distribution and rigidity of the glass network determined by EPR of Cu

The linewidth-broadening of the EPR spectra of Cu²⁺ in silicate, borate and phosphate glasses was analyzed in terms of the distribution of g_| and A_| (δ_| and δA_|) and related to the distribution of the rigidity of the network structure. X- and K-band spectra were measured for the glasses doped with ⁶³Cu²⁺ (93% abundance). The linewidth of the HFS shoulders with parallel orientation to H increased linearly with increasing m or microwave frequency. δg_| and δA_| showed a marked dependence on glass composition. For example, in Na₂O---B₂O₃ glasses, on going from x (mol% of Na₂O) being small through intermediate to large, δg_| varied from small through large to negligibly small. In contrast to these glasses δg_| was extremely large for 75PbO · 25B₂O₃ glass. The large δg_| for the Na₂O---B₂O₃ glassesof intermediate x was attributed to the coexistence of various borate groups competitively coordinating to Cu²⁺. Negligibly small δg_| for 70Na₂O · 30B₂O₃ glass and extremely large δg_| for 75PbO ·25B₂O₃ glass, both with a narrower structural distribution, reflect regidity of the glass network. The Pb---O bonding is strong enough to distort the coordination of Cu²⁺-complex. The situation is the reverse in Na₂O---B₂O₃ glasses.     

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.     

The vanadyl ion as a spectroscopic probe:: Measurement of optical basicity in the visible / near-infrared region

Previously optical basicity was always measured using s-p absorption spectra of Tl⁺, Pb²⁺ and Bi³⁺, but since these spectra are in the UV region, media containing oxides of transition metal aons have been excluded from such measurements. The present work shows that for VO²⁺ the d-d transition ²B₂ → ²E red-shifts with increasing optical basicity, and a study in the Na₂O---P₂O₅ glass system allows comparison with results obtained previously with Tl⁺ and other probe ions. It is shown that under controlled conditions determination of optical basicity with VO²⁺ is viable, and since the ²B₂ → ²E spectral band occurs in the visible / near-IR region, UV transparency of the medium is no longer necessary. The VO²⁺ probe therefore offers a means of obtaining optical basicities of glasses containing e.g. PbO, or of metallurgica slags containing e.g. Fe₂O₃ or MnO.     

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.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of alkaline earth phosphosilicate and aluminoborosilicate glasses

The ¹¹B, ²⁷Al, ²⁹Si and ³¹P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra of MO–P₂O₅, MO–SiO₂–P₂O₅ and MO(M^′₂O)–SiO₂–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ (M=Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, M^′=Na) glasses were examined. In binary MO–P₂O₅ (M=Ca and Mg) glasses, the distributions of the phosphate sites, P(Q_n), can be expressed by a theoretical prediction that P₂O₅ reacts quantitatively with MO. In the ternary 0.30MO–0.05SiO₂–0.65P₂O₅ glasses, the 6-coordinated silicon sites were detected, whose population increases in the order of MgOxCaO–0.05SiO₂–(0.95−x)P₂O₅ glasses, its population increases with an increase in f (=([P₂O₅]−[MO]−[B₂O₃]−[Na₂O])/[SiO₂]) and has maximum at f=9. The signal due to the 5-coordinated silicon atoms is also observed when x is smaller than 0.45. When three network-forming oxides such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃ coexist, Al₂O₃ reacts preferably with MO. The populations of 4-coordinated boron atoms, N₄, are expressed well with r/(1−r), where r=([Na₂O]−[Al₂O₃])/([Na₂O]−[Al₂O₃]+[B₂O₃]). The correlation of the Raman signal at 1210 and 1350 cm⁻¹ with the NMR signal of Si(Q₆) at −215 ppm is also seen.     

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.     

An infrared study of crystallization in sodium-disilicate glasses containing iron oxides

The infrared absorption spectra of sodium-disilicate glasses containing various amounts of Fe₂O₃ ([Na₂O · 2 SiO₂]_1−x [Fe₂O₃]_x, where X = 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2) were investigated in the wavenumber range from 200–2000 cm⁻¹. The addition of Fe₂O₃ to the sodium-disilicate glass does not seem to introduce any new absorption band as compared with the spectrum of a pure sodium-disilicate glass; nevertheless, a general shift of the existing absorption bands toward lower wavenumbers is observed. The amount of shift is, in fact, proportional to the content of Fe₂O₃ in the glass. This observation is consistent with the recently proposed structural model for the bonding of Fe³⁺ ions in the iron-sodium-silicate glass system.

Annealing of 20 mol% iron oxide glasses at 550 and 580°C produced an extra sharp infrared absorption peak at about 610 cm⁻¹ wavenumber. This new peak is believed to be related to the crystallized particles of the glass as concluded from both a scanning electron micrograph and an electron diffraction pattern.     

Hydrolytic resistance of Na2O---B2O3---SiO2 gels prepared by sol-gel process

Alkoxide derived gels were prepared in the system Na₂O---B₂O₃---SiO₂. The gel compositions were situated in the liquid-liquid immiscibility area of the phase equilibrium diagram.

Hydrolytic resistance tests were performed on the gels heat-treated at temperatures ranging between 120 to 850 °C. The Na₂O, B₂O₃ and SiO₂ extracted from the attack gels were analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the amount of B₂O₃ has a significant influence on the chemical durability of the heat-treated gels. At temperatures of 850 °C the greater the B₂O₃ mol% the greater are the amounts of Na₂O and B₂O₃ extracted. Different behaviour was observed for gels heat-treated at 600 °C where the amounts of B₂O₃ and Na₂O extracted slightly increases as the B₂O₃ mol% increases. Small amounts of extracted SiO₂ were always observed.

These results are complemented with other measurements so that an explanation of the controlling mechanism is given.     

B NMR investigations in xV2O5–B2O3 and xV2O5–B2O3–PbO glasses

11B (I=3/2) MAS NMR in the binary glass system xV₂O₅–B₂O₃ (x=0.053, 0.43) and the ternary glass system xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO (0.1x1.5) has been investigated at room temperature. In the xV₂O₅–B₂O₃ glasses, one NMR line due to BO₃ unit was observed. Meanwhile in the xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO, two NMR lines which arise from BO₃ and BO₄ units were detected, where the appearance of BO₄ units is produced by the presence of PbO. From the computer-simulation of the ¹¹B NMR central transition line (m=−1/2↔1/2), the quadrupole parameters (e²qQ/h and η) for BO₃ units in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃, and those for BO₃ and BO₄ units in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO were obtained as a function of x. As the V₂O₅ content increases in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO, the e²qQ/h and η values of the BO₃⁻ associated resonance are found to slightly decrease and increase, respectively. Meanwhile, the e²qQ/h and η values of BO₄⁻ associated resonance in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO are found to slightly increase and decrease, respectively. By comparing the intensities of the total transitions (m=−3/2↔−1/2,m=−1/2↔1/2, and 1/2↔3/2) for the ¹¹B NMR line of BO₃ and BO₄ units contained in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO with those of respective standard samples of 0.053V₂O₅–B₂O₃ and NaBH₄, the quantitative fractions of BO₃ and BO₄ in xV₂O₅–B₂O₃–PbO were obtained as a function of x.     

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.     

Determination of Na2O activities in silicate melts by EMF measurements

An EMF cell using a Na-β″-alumina electrolyte has been designed for the quantification of the thermodynamic activity of Na₂O (aNa₂O) in a series of sodium-bearing silicate liquids at high temperature. Initial experiments have been performed using Na₂O–0.663WO₃ and Na₂O–0.555MoO₃ as reference liquids. Values of aNa₂O derived for Na₂O–2SiO₂ binary melt are found to be in excellent agreement with data from the literature, confirming the validity of the method. To extend use of this experimental set-up to higher temperature, the aNa₂O of industrial C-glass has been calibrated as a reference liquid at temperatures up to 1263 °C. The influence of additions of CaO, Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃ on the Na₂O activity of binary sodium-silicates has been quantified. For each glass composition, measured values of aNa₂O are a function of temperature, log(aNa₂O) varying as a function of inverse absolute temperature. Activation energies derived from these data are all generally similar with the exception of industrial E-glass, which is rich in Al and poor in Na. At constant temperature, additions of network forming Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃ to a Na₂O–SiO₂ binary melt yield a decrease of the activity of Na₂O, while addition of network modifying CaO results in an increase in (aNa₂O). These changes are qualitatively consistent with predictions based upon expected modifications of melt structure. However, measured values of log(aNa₂O) do not correlate perfectly with theoretical models of glass basicity, suggesting that either sodium activity is decoupled from melt basicity, or that current models are insufficient to calculate that parameter, in particular for the case of liquids poor in Na and rich in Al.     

Structure and magnetic properties of lead vanadate glasses

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to obtain structural information on the xPbO · (1−x)V₂O₅ glass system where x=0.22, 0.35, 0.43, and 0.54. The binding energies from the Pb 4f_7/2 and Pb 4f_5/2 core levels decrease with increasing PbO content while the full-width at half-maximum of these peaks increase. The O 1s spectra show an asymmetry for samples having composition x<0.5, which results from oxygen atoms in the V–O–V configuration (bridging oxygens) and from oxygen atoms in the V–O–Pb and Pb–O–Pb configurations (non-bridging oxygens). The number of non-bridging oxygens was found to increase from 81% to 92% with increasing PbO content. For x=0.54, the O 1s spectrum was symmetric indicating that all three oxygen configurations have essentially the same binding energy. This behavior in addition to the decreasing binding energies of the Pb 4f levels with increasing PbO content suggest that the Pb–O bonds are becoming more covalent in nature and that eventually PbO changed its role from a glass modifier to a glass former for x>0.5. The asymmetric V 2p_3/2 peaks for the x<0.4 glasses indicate the presence of a small concentration of V⁴⁺ ions in addition to V⁵⁺ ions, while the symmetric V 2p_3/2 peaks for the more concentrated PbO vanadate glasses indicate only V⁵⁺ being present. The concentration of V⁴⁺ ions (0–4%) from the XPS data is consistent with determinations from magnetic susceptibility measurements on the same glass samples. In addition to the paramagnetic contribution (Curie–Weiss temperature-dependent behavior) from the V⁴⁺ ions, the susceptibility for these oxide glasses consisted of a positive, constant contribution arising from the temperature-independent paramagnetic V₂O₅ exceeding the diamagnetism from the core ions.     

Diluted and non-diluted ferric ions in borate glasses studied by electron paramagnetic resonance

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of lithium borate glass (1 - x)(0.63B₂O₃ · 0.37Li₂O) · xFe₂O₃, with x varying from 0.001 to 0.1, were measured at different microwave frequencies and temperatures. For low Fe³⁺ concentrations (Fe₂O₃ molar contents from 0.001 to 0.01), X-band EPR spectra, consisting of a g_{ef = 4.3} peak accompanied by a shoulder continuing down to g_{ef = 9.7}, are computer simulated on the basis of a ‘rhombic’ spin-Hamiltonian with Zeeman and fine-structure terms. A good fit to the experimental spectra for various Fe₂O₃ contents is observed with the same values of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and assuming a Lorentzian lineshape and a linewidth increasing linealry with the concentration of Fe³⁺ ions. It is concluded that the spectrum is due to diluted Fe³⁺ ions in a relatively strong crystal field of orthorhombic symmetry, with largely distributed fine-structure parameters. From the concentration dependence of the line width, by extending to glasses a theoretical EPR linewidth expression derived for polycrystalline systems, the minimum distance between diluted Fe³⁺ ions is estimated as 4.9 Å. A diluted state of Fe³⁺ ions in the glass network in this range is also confirmed by the temperature dependence of the g_ef = 4.3 resonance which follows a Curie law. For intermediate concentrations of Fe³⁺ ions (Fe₂O₃ molar contents from 0.01 to 0.1), the width of the g_ef = 4.3 line is proportional to the square root of concentration, still indicating dipolar interactions. On the other hand, the microwave frequency dependence of a broad g_ef ≈ 2 line, which coexists at these concentrations with the g_ef = 4.3 line, shows that the former line is due to pairs or small clusters of exchange-coupled Fe³⁺ ions. The temperature dependence of the g_ef ≈ 2 line intensity in 0.1 mol Fe₂O₃ glass is consistent with a more antiferromagnetic character by comparison with the 0.05 mol Fe₂O₃ glass, which is attributed to an appearance, at higher Fe₂O₃ contents, of iron-containing microclusters not incorporated in the random glass network, with smaller distances between the paramagnetic ions. These microcluster are probably the origin of a new narrow line superposed with the broad g_ef ≈ 2 line in the low-temperature EPR spectra.     

Precipitation of In2O3 nano-crystallites from glasses in the system Na2O/B2O3/Al2O3/In2O3

Glasses in the system Na₂O/B₂O₃/Al₂O₃/In₂O₃ were melted and subsequently tempered in the range from 500 to 700 °C. Depending on the chemical composition, various crystalline phases were observed. From samples without Al₂O₃, In₂O₃ could not be crystallized from homogeneous glasses, because either spontaneous In₂O₃ crystallization occurred during cooling, or other phases such as NaInO₂ were formed during tempering. The addition of alumina, however, controlled the crystallization of In₂O₃. Depending on the crystallization temperature applied, the crystallite sizes were in the range from 13 to 53 nm. The glass matrix can be dissolved by soaking the powdered glass in water. This procedure can be used to prepare nano-crystalline In₂O₃-powders.     

New solvents for the growth of substituted BaFe12O19 single crystals from high-temperature solutions

The solubility of a series of hexaferrite derivatives of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ in solvents of the system Na₂O-B₂O₃ with oxide ratios of 7:3 and 3:2 has been investigated. The temperature dependences of the saturation concentration in these solvents are determined for ferrites with the nominal compositions Ba_0.8Pb_0.2Fe₁₂O₁₉, BaFe₁₀Ga₂O₁₉, BaFe₁₀Al₂O₁₉ and BaFe₈Mn₂ Ti₂O₁₉. Single crystals of BaFe₁₂O₁₉, in which part of the metal ions are replaced by various amounts of Pb²⁺, Ga³⁺, Al³⁺ and Mn²⁺ + Ti⁴⁺ ions, are g rown from the solutions by the slow cooling technique. The distribution coefficients of the substituting ions and the compositions of the crystals obtained are established by microprobe analysis (EPMA). Information on the position of substitution is obtained from the Mössbauer spectra.     

On the mechanism of electrical relaxation in Na-conductive phosphate glasses

The crossover from a frequency independent to a frequency dependent ac response has been studied in glasses with the composition 37.2Na₂O-12.8CaO₅ · 50P₂O₅ and 30Na₂O-5CaO-7.5Al₂O₃-57.5P₂O₅ (mol%) containing 5 × 10⁻³ ≤ mol% Ag₂O ≤ 5 × 10⁻¹. Recently, we have established that in these glasses the diffusion coefficient of guest silver ions varies in space. In this case, as a first approximation, the diffusion coefficient may be considered as a constant within regions whose size is no less than 10 nm across. We assume that the diffusion of sodium ions can be given by the D(r) coefficient with the same spatial dispersion as that of silver ions. It is demonstrated that the frequency dependence of ac response is in fair agreement with the assumption.     

Low expansion copper aluminosilicate glasses

The thermal expansion coefficients of Cu₂O---Al₂O₃---SiO₂ glasses have been measured. These glasses have very low expansion coefficients similar to that for SiO₂ glass, but their liquids temperatures are much lower. It was possible to reduce the liquids temperature by the addition of 2 mol% of Na₂O while maintaining low expansivity. In order to explain the low expansivity, the effects of cation size, valence, the Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ ratio, bond strength and phase separation were examined. Phase separation was observed in these glasses which probably consisted of a copper-rich dispersed phase and a network former-rich matrix phase. It was concluded that the overall expansion coefficients of the glasses were governed by the low expansion matrix phase.     

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.     

An X-ray diffraction study of the structure of B2O3---Cs2O liquids

The short range structures of B₂O₃ (90 mol%)---Cs₂O (10 mol%) and B₂O₃ (80 mol%)---Cs₂O (20 mol%) liquids were analyzed at 973 and 1053 K, respectively, by an X-ray diffraction method, and the effects of Cs₂O addition on the boron-oxygen bonding were investigated. The existence of BO₃ triangles, which form the so-called boroxol ring structure, was confirmed in B₂O₃---Cs₂O liquids, as well as in B₂O₃ liquid, but some fraction of the BO₃ triangles was thought to be converted to BO₄ tetrahedra. Similar results have previously been observed also in B₂O₃---Cs₂O glasses. A Cs atom was found to be surrounded by six O atoms; four Cs---O interatomic distances were about 3.2 Å but the other two were at 3.8–3.9 Å. These distances indicate that distorted Cs---O octahedra may exist in these B₂O₃---Cs₂O liquids.     

Electrical conductivities of mixed cation glasses

The electrical conductivities of (1−x) Li₂O · x BaO · 2 SiO₂, (1−x) Na₂O · x MgO ·2 SiO₂, (1−x) Na₂O · x CaO · SiO₂ and (1−x) Na₂O · x BaO · 2SiO₂ glasses were measured at temperature ranging from room temperature to 450°C. The transport numbers for Na⁺ ion in (1−x) Na₂O · x BaO · 2 SiO₂ glasses were measured. It was found that the alkali ion carried a significant part of the current in these glasses except one that had no alkali ions, and the conductivity decreased markedly as the alkali oxide was substituted by an alkaline earth oxide. The results of conductivity measurements combined with the data hitherto reported on mixed alkali glasses led to the proposal that the so-called mixed alkali effect could be explained on the basis of the independent path model in which it is assumed that cations can move only through vacant sites left by those of the same type.