DC conductivity of silver vanadium tellurite glasses

The mixed electronic-ionic conduction in 0.5[xAg₂O-(1−x)V₂O₅]-0.5TeO₂ glasses with x=0.1-0.8 has been investigated over a wide temperature range (70-425 K). The mechanism of dc conductivity changes from predominantly electronic to ionic within the 30?mol% Ag₂O?40 range; it is correlated with the underlying change in glass structure. The temperature dependence of electronic conductivity has been analyzed quantitatively to determine the applicability of various models of conduction in amorphous semiconducting glasses. At high temperature, T>θ_D/2 (where θ_D is the Debye temperature) the electronic dc conductivity is due to non-adiabatic small polaron hopping of electrons for 0.1?x?0.5. The density of states at Fermi level is estimated to be N(E_F)≈10¹⁹-10²⁰ eV⁻¹ cm⁻³. The carrier density is of the order of 10¹⁹ cm⁻³, with mobility ≈2.3×10⁻⁷-8.6×10⁻⁹ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 300 K. The electronic dc conductivity within the whole range of temperature is best described in terms of Triberis-Friedman percolation model. For 0.6?x?0.8, the predominantly ionic dc conductivity is described well by the Anderson-Stuart model.     

Effect of CuO addition on the optical and electrical properties of sodium zinc borophosphate glasses

Sodium borophosphate glasses doped with copper ions having general composition 20Na₂O-20ZnO-25B₂O₃-(35-x) P₂O₅-x CuO (x=1-8 mol %) were prepared using conventional melt-quench method and characterized by density, UV-visible optical absorption, photoluminescence and conductivity measurements. E_optical values for different glass samples are found to decrease systematically from 3.5 to 2.5 eV with increase in CuO content in the glass. Network modifying action of CuO with the glass network has been confirmed from the UV-visible optical absorption studies. Presence of Copper in the form of Cu⁺ species has been confirmed from photoluminescence measurements. The electrical conductivity (σ) increases with increase in copper oxide content in the glass and temperature dependence of electrical conductivity confirmed the semiconducting nature of the samples.     

Mixed alkali effect in boroarsenate glasses

We report, for the first time the study of mixed alkali effect (MAE) in boroarsenate glasses. Density, DSC, DC electrical conductivity and IR studies have been carried out for xK₂O-(40−x)Na₂O-50B₂O₃-10As₂O₃ glasses. The DC electrical conductivity was measured in the temperature range 100 °C to below the glass transition temperature. The strength of the MAE in T_g, DC electrical conductivity and activation energy has been determined. It is observed that the strength of MAE in DC electrical conductivity is less pronounced with increase in temperature. The results are explained by the structural model recently proposed by Swenson and coworkers, supporting molecular dynamic results. The IR studies show that the glass system contains BO₃ and BO₄ units in the disordered manner.     

Nanoscale intrinsic heterogeneities in Ag-Ge-Se glasses and their correlation with physical properties

Ag-Ge-Se glass forming system is dominated by liquid immiscibility. Glasses in the Se-GeSe₂-Ag₂Se triangle may have different morphologies according to their composition. In this work inhomogeneous morphology is observed in Ag_x(Ge_ySe_1−y)_100−x bulk glasses with y = 0.20, 0.25 at.% fraction. Electron microscopy reveals that the scale of heterogeneity strongly depends on the sample composition. The physical properties of these glasses are also dependent on their composition and can be easily correlated to their morphology. Accordingly, the electric conductivity evolves from semiconducting to ionic conductivity whereas a percolation transition occurs in a narrow Ag concentration range.Mössbauer spectrometry let us to analyse the local order of these intrinsically heterogeneous glasses employing ⁵⁷Fe as a probe.     

Ion transport studies in zinc/cadmium halide doped silver phosphate glasses

A number of samples of silver phosphate glasses Ag₂O−P₂O₅−Zn/CdX₂ (X=Cl, Br or I) with 1, 5, 10 and 20 mol-% zinc or cadmium halides have been prepared. Control samples of undoped silver phosphate glasses were also prepared. These glasses were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, transference number measurements and electrical conductivity studies. These glasses were found to be essentially ionic conductors. The undoped silver phosphate glass (Ag₂O−P₂O₅) has a low σ value in comparison to the doped ones. The conductivity (σ) in the doped glasses increases substantially with increasing concentration of dopant salts Zn/or CdX₂ and as the anions of the dopants are changed from Cl⁻ to I⁻. It is found that the σ values of the ZnX₂ doped glasses are slightly greater than those of the CdX₂ doped ones, and the silver phosphate glasses doped with (20 mol-%) Zn/CdI₂ yielded maximum conductivity. The results have been discussed and explained on the basis of changes in the structure of the glass matrix by the addition of dopant ions of different sizes, IR spectra and thermal studies.     

Structural investigation of xAg2O·(100−x)·[2B2O3·As2O3] glasses doped with manganese ions

Structural analysis of x[(100−y)Ag₂O·yMnO]·(100−x)[2B₂O₃·As₂O₃] glasses, with x=10 mol% and 0≤y≤10 mol%, was performed by means of FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies. The purpose of this work is to investigate the structural changes that appear in the xAg₂O·(100−x)·[2B₂O₃·As₂O₃] glasses with the addition and increase in manganese ions content. FT-IR measurements revealed the presence of pyro-, ortho-, di-, tri-, tetra- and penta-borate groups and structural units characteristic to As₂O₃ in the structure of the studied glasses. FT-IR spectroscopy measurements also show that BO₃ units are the main structural units of the glass system. The presence of structural units characteristic to Ag₂O were not directly evidenced by FT-IR spectroscopy. In addtition, the FT-Raman analysis evidenced the presence of boroxol rings in the structure of the studied glasses.     

Effect of iron doping on the characterization and transport properties of calcium phosphate glassy semiconductors

X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), density (d) and dc conductivity (σ) of the glasses in Fe₂O₃-CaO-P₂O₅ system were reported. The dc conductivity in the temperature range 303-453 K was measured. The overall features of these XRD curves confirm the amorphous nature of the present samples. The density of glasses increases from 2.750 to 2.892 g/cm³ with increasing Fe₂O₃ content as a result of a strengthening of cross-linking within glass network. The glass temperature values (T_g) of the present glasses were larger than those of tellurite glasses. This indicates a higher thermal stability of the glass in the present system. The glasses had conductivities ranging from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁵ Sm⁻¹ at temperatures from 303 to 453 K. Electrical conduction of the glasses was confirmed to be due to non-adiabatic small polaron hopping and the conduction was primarily determined by hopping carrier mobility.     

Effect of Bi2O3 on EPR, optical transmission and DC conductivity of vanadyl doped alkali bismuth borate glasses

Glasses with composition xBi₂O₃·(30−x)M₂O·70B₂O₃ (M=Li, Na) containing 2 mol% V₂O₅ have been prepared over the range 0≤x≤15 (x is in mol%). The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of VO²⁺ of these glasses have been recorded in the X-band (≈9.3 GHz) at room temperature (RT≈300 K). Spin Hamiltonian parameters, g_∥, g_⊥, A_∥, A_⊥, dipolar hyperfine coupling parameter, P, and Fermi contact interaction parameter, K, have been calculated. The molecular orbital coefficients, α² and γ², have been calculated by recording the optical transmission spectra. In xBi₂O₃·(30−x)Li₂O·70B₂O₃ glasses there is decrease in the tetragonality of the V⁴⁺O₆ complex for x up to 6 mol% whereas for x≥6 mol%, tetragonality increases. In xBi₂O₃·(30−x)Na₂O·70B₂O₃ glasses there is increase in the tetragonality of the V⁴⁺O₆ complex with increasing x. The 3d_xy orbit expands with increase in Bi₂O₃:M₂O ratio. Values of the theoretical optical basicity, Λ_th, have also been reported. The DC conductivity increases with increase in temperature. The order of conductivity is 10⁻⁵ ohm⁻¹ m⁻¹ at low temperature and 10⁻³ ohm⁻¹ m⁻¹ at high temperature. The DC conductivity decreases and the activation energy increases with increase in Bi₂O₃:M₂O ratio.     

Impedance and Modulus studies of the solid electrolyte system 20CdI2–80[xAg2O–y(0.7V2O5–0.3B2O3)], where 1 ≤x/y ≤ 3

In the present work, an evaluation of the transport properties of super ion conducting quaternary system 20CdI₂–80[xAg₂O–y(0.7V₂O₅–0.3B₂O₃)], where 1 ≤ x/y ≤ 3, in steps of 0.25, to study the effect of changing the modifier to former ratio on the conduction phenomena has been undertaken. Electrical conductivity measurements were made using complex impedance method. The electrical conductivity and conductivity relaxation of the system were studied in the temperature range from 303 K to 333 K and in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 MHz. The highest conductivity at room temperature is obtained for the system with modifier to former ratio 1.75. Impedance and modulus analyses had indicated the temperature independent distribution of relaxation times and the non-Debye behavior in these materials. The co-operative motion due to strong coupling between the mobile Ag⁺ ions is assumed to give rise to non-Debye type of relaxation. The silver ionic transport number (t_Ag+) obtained by the emf technique suggested the occurrence of silver ion conduction in the CdI₂-doped Ag₂O–V₂O₅–B₂O₃ system.     

High temperature thermoelectric properties of Nb-doped ZnO ceramics

Solid-state reaction processing technique was used to prepare Zn_xNb_1−xO (0≤x≤0.02) polycrystalline bulk samples. In the present study, we find that their lattice parameters a and c tend to decrease with increasing amount of Nb additive. The electrical conductivity of all the Zn_1−xNb_xO samples increased with increasing temperature, indicating a semiconducting behavior in the measured temperature range. The addition of Nb₂O₅ to ZnO led to an increase in the electrical conductivity and a decrease in the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient. The best performance at 1000 K has been observed for nominal 0.5 at% Nb-doped ZnO, with an electrical resistivity of about 73.13 (S cm⁻¹) and Seebeck coefficient of ∼257.36 μV K⁻¹, corresponding to a power factor (S²σ) of 4.84×10⁻⁴ Wm⁻¹ K⁻². The thermal conductivity, κ, of the oxide decreased as compared to pure ZnO. The figure of merit ZT values of ZnO-doped Nb₂O₅ samples are higher than the ZnO pure sample, demonstrating that the Nb₂O₅ addition is fairly effective for enhancing thermoelectric properties.     

Thermoelectric performance of ternary Bi-Sb-Ag alloys prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent pressureless sintering

The alloys with the general formula of Bi₈₅Sb_15−xAg_x (x=0, 1, 3, 5, 7) were prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent pressureless sintering (Bi₈₅Sb₁₅ alloy was used for comparison). Their transport properties involving electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity had been investigated in the temperature range of 80-300 K. The maximum absolute value of Seebeck coefficient (120 μV/K) was found at 160 K in the alloy Bi₈₅Sb_15−xAg_x (x=3). The figure-of-merit of alloy Bi₈₅Sb_15−xAg_x (x=1) reached a maximum value of 2.16×10⁻³ K⁻¹ at 219 K, which is as large again as that of the reference sample Bi₈₅Sb₁₅.     

Mixed cationic effect in the Li/AgB2O3P2O5 glasses

Electrical conductivity data have been determined for a series of x Ag₂O(1 − x)Li₂OB₂O₃P₂O₅ glasses. The progressive substitution of Li⁺ by Ag⁺ considerably decreases the ionic conductivity which shows a minimum at Ag/(Ag + Li) = 0.4. This behaviour becomes intense as the temperature is lowered. This mixed cationic effect is further characterised by activation energy and conductivity relaxation time going to a maxima where conductivity minima occurs. ac conductivity and electric modulus response of those glasses are discussed.     

Structural and optical properties of lithium borobismuthate glasses

Glasses with compositions 25Li₂O-(75−x)Bi₂O₃-x B₂O₃, with 0?x?30 mol%, have been prepared using the melt quenching technique. The density and the molar volume have been determined. IR spectroscopy is used as a structural probe of the nearest neighbor environment in the glass network. The optical transmittance and reflectance spectrum of the glasses have been recorded in the wavelength range 400-1100 nm. The values of the optical band gap E_g^opt for indirect transition and refractive index have been determined for 0?x?30 mol%. The average electronic polarizability of the oxide ion α_o²⁻ and the optical basicity have been estimated from the calculated values of the refractive indices. Variations in the different physical parameters such as the density, molar volume, optical band gap, refractive index, average electronic polarizability of the oxide ion and optical basicity with B₂O₃ content have been analyzed and discussed in terms of the changes in the glass structure.     

Optical and electronic polarizability investigation of Nd-doped soda-lime silicate glasses

This paper reports on different physical and optical properties of Nd³⁺-doped soda-lime silicate glass. The glasses containing Nd³⁺ in (65−x)SiO₂:25Na₂O:10CaO:xNd₂O₃ (where x=0.0-5.0 mol%) have been prepared by the melt-quenching method. In order to understand the role of Nd₂O₃ in these glasses the density, molar volume, refractive index and optical absorption were investigated. The results show that the density and molar volume of the glasses increase with an increase in Nd₂O₃ concentration and consequently generate more non-bridging oxygen (NBOs) into glass matrix. The optical absorption spectra were measured in the wavelength range from 300 to 700 nm and the optical band gaps were determined. It was found that the optical band gap decreases with an increase in Nd₂O₃ concentration. On the basis of the measured values of density and refractive index, the Nd³⁺ ion concentration in glasses, the polarizability of oxide ions and optical basicity were theoretically determined.     

Spectroscopic study of ZnO doped CeO2-PbO-B2O3 glasses

Glass samples of compositions xZnO-xCeO₂-(30−x)PbO-(70−x)B₂O₃ with x varying from 2% to 10% mole fraction are prepared by the melt quench technique. The structural and optical analysis of glasses is carried out by XRD, FTIR, density and UV-visible spectroscopic measurement techniques. The FTIR spectral analysis indicates that with the addition of ZnO contents in glass network, structural units of BO₃ are transformed into BO₄. It has been observed in our previous work that band gap decreases from 2.89 to 2.30 eV for CeO₂-PbO-B₂O₃ glasses with cerium content varying from 0% to 10% [Gurinder Pal Singh, Davinder Paul Singh, Physica B 406(3) (2011) 640-644]. With the incorporation of zinc in CeO₂-PbO-B₂O₃ glasses, the optical band gap energy decreases further from 2.38 to 2.03 eV. This causes more compaction of the borate network, which results in an increase of density (3.39-4.02 g/cm³). Transmittance shows that ZnO in glass samples acts as a reducing agent thathelps to convert Ce⁴⁺→Ce³⁺ ions.     

EPR and magnetic susceptibility studies of iron ions in ZnO-Fe2O3-SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O glasses

Room temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data have been obtained on bulk x(ZnO,Fe₂O₃)(65−x)SiO₂20(CaO, P₂O₅)15Na₂O (6≤x≤21 mole%) glasses prepared by melt quenching method. EPR spectra of the glasses revealed absorptions centered at g≈2.1 and 4.3. The variations of the intensity and line width of these absorption lines with composition have been interpreted in terms of the variation in the concentration of the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in the glass and the interaction between the iron ions. EPR and magnetic susceptibility data of the glasses reveal that both Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions are present in the glasses, with their relative concentration being dependent on the glass composition. The studies reveal superexchange type interactions in these glasses, which are strongly dependent on their iron content.     

Optical properties of samarium doped zinc-phosphate glasses

Samarium doped zinc-phosphate glasses having composition Sm₂O_{3 (x)}ZnO_(60−x) P₂O_{5 (40)} (where x=0.1-0.5 mol%) were prepared by melt quenching method. The density of these glasses was measured by Archimedes method; the corresponding molar volumes have also been calculated. The values of density range from 3.34 to 3.87 gm/cm³ and those of molar volume range from 27.62 to 31.80 cm⁻³. The optical absorbance studies were carried out on these glasses to measure their energy band gaps. The absorption spectra of these glasses were recorded in UV-visible region. No sharp edges were found in the optical spectra, which verifies the amorphous nature of these glasses. The optical band gap energies for these glasses were found to be in the range of 2.89-4.20 eV. The refractive index and polarizability of oxide ion have been calculated by using Lorentz-Lorentz relations. The values of refractive index range from 2.13 to 2.42 and those of polarizability of oxide ion range from 6.51×10⁻²⁴ to 7.80×10⁻²⁴ cm³.     

Optical absorption and thermoluminescence studies on LiF-Sb2O3-B2O3 glasses doped with Ni ions

20LiF-(30−x)Sb₂O₃-50B₂O₃:xNiO glasses with the value of x (ranging from 0 to 1.0 mol% in steps of 0.2) were prepared. A number of studies, viz. differential scanning calorimetry, optical absorption, magnetic susceptibility and thermoluminescence, on these glasses were carried out as a function of nickel ion concentration. An anomaly has been observed in all the properties of these glasses when NiO concentration is about 0.6 mol%. The results of these studies were analysed in the light of different environments of nickel ions in the glass network.     

Solid-state NMR study of bioactive binary borosilicate glasses

A series of binary borosilicate glasses prepared by the sol-gel method are shown to be bioactive. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and trimethylborate (TMB) in acidic medium are used to prepare xB₂O₃·(1−x)SiO₂ glass systems for x=0.045-0.167. The formation of a layer of apatite-like mineral on the glass surface becomes apparent after soaking in simulated body fluid for 48 h. We have measured the ¹¹B-¹¹B homonuclear second moments of the borosilicate glasses and inferred that no macroscopic phase separation occurred in our glasses. The ¹¹B chemical shift data also show that the formation of clustered boroxol rings is negligible in our glass system. Although the bioactivity of our borosilicate glasses is less than that of CaO-SiO₂ sol-gel glasses, these simple binary systems could be taken as reference glass systems for the search of new bioactive borosilicate glasses.     

Improving dosimetric properties of tellurite glasses

Thermoluminscence (TL) properties of quaternary tellurite glass in the form 80(TeO₂)–5(TiO₂)–(15−x)(WO₃)–(x)A_nO_m where A_nO_m=Nb₂O₅, Nd₂O₃, Er₂O₃ and x mol% have been measured. TL main dosimetry peak for each produced glass sample were investigated for ⁶⁰Co gamma rays. Dosimetric properties of the quaternary tellurite glasses have been measured as a function of different compositions of the glass system in different rare earth oxides concentration by using thermoluminescence (TL) detection technique.