Effect of some doping elements on the ionic conduction of mixed alkali-alumino-borosilicate glasses

Summary Some borosilicate glasses containing an equimolar ratio of different alkali types (K⁺ and Na⁺ ions) doped with 0.1 mole% R (R=Mn, Tb, Y, or Gd) were prepared. The results of d.c. electrical conductivity show that the absolute values of resistivities and the corresponding activation energies for the doped glasses are lower than those for glasses without doped ions. This behaviour is explained on the basis of the formation of elastic dipoles in such glasses and of the change of their fields owing to the existence of the doping ions. By thermal treatment of these glasses, it is found that the activation energies for the doped glasses are different from those obtained for glassess prepared without doping ions. This peculiarity is explained on the basis of the phase separation process in such glasses.