Structural and optical properties of WO3-ZnO-PbO-B2O3 glasses

Glass samples of compositions 20PbO-80B₂O₃ and xWO₃—(20−x) ZnO-20PbO-60B₂O₃ with x varying from 0% to 10% mole fraction are prepared by the melt quench technique. Decrease in the band gap from 2.86 to 2.16 eV for ZnO-PbO-B₂O₃ glasses with an increase in the WO₃ content has been observed and discussed. The FTIR spectral studies have pointed out the conversion of structural units of BO₃ to BO₄ and WO₄ to WO₆ with the presence of W-O-W vibration of tungsten and incorporation of ZnO₄ structural units of zinc in these glasses. The increase in density from 2.75 to 4.03 gcm⁻³ for ZnO-PbO-B₂O₃ glasses is observed with an increase in WO₃ content. Due to the formation of WO₆, WO₄ and BO₄ units, changes in the atomic structure with WO₃ composition are observed and discussed.