An X-ray diffraction study of the structure of vitreous V 2O 5

Abstract

The structure of amorphous vanadium pentoxide, V 2O 5, prepared by rapid quenching (twin-roller technique) has been examined by X-ray diffraction. The number of 4.8 of oxygen neighbours which surround the vanadium atom at a mean distance of 179 pm is obtained from the first peak in the real space correlation function. According to the V–V coordination number of five estimated from the peak at 346 pm a network model formed of corner-linked VO 5 groups is suggested which allows to fit all the distance peaks of the first- and second-neighbours. However, some more structural features may occur in vitreous V 2O 5, as well, which is examined by comparisons of the experimental results with those calculated for several other model structures.