A theoretical interpretation of the chemical shift of 29Si NMR peaks in alkali borosilicate glasses

Abstract

In 29Si-NMR, it has so far been accepted that the chemical shifts of Q n species (SiO 4 units containing n bridging oxygens) were equivalent between alkali borosilicate and boron-free alkali silicate glasses. In the sodium borosilicate glasses with low sodium content, however, a contradiction was confirmed in the estimation of alkali distribution; 11B NMR suggested that Na ions were entirely distributed to borate groups to form BO 4 units, whereas a −90 ppm component was also observed in 29Si-NMR spectra, which has been attributed to Q 3 species associated with a nonbridging oxygen (NBO). Then, cluster molecular orbital calculations were performed to interpret the −90 ppm component in the borosilicate glasses. It was found that a silicon atom which had two tetrahedral borons (B4) as its second nearest neighbors was similar in atomic charge and Si2p energy to the Q 3 species in boron-free alkali silicates. Unequal distribution of electrons in Si-O-B4 bridging bonds was also found, where much electrons were localized on the Si-O bonds. It was finally concluded that the Si-O-B4 bridges with narrow bond angle were responsible for the −90 ppm 29Si component in the borosilicate glasses. There still remained another interpretation; the Q 3 species were actually present in the glasses, and NBOs in the Q 3 species were derived from the tricluster groups, such as (O 3Si)O(BO 3) 2. In the glasses with low sodium content, however, it was concluded that the tricluster groups were not so abundant to contribute to the −90 ppm component.