Spectroscopic Inquiry of the Fe2O3-role in Binary Sodium Borate, Sodium Silicate and Sodium Phosphate Glasses and Effects of Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

Optical absorption spectral investigations have been carried out on Fe3+ ions doped sodium borate, sodium silicate and sodium phosphate glasses before and after gamma irradiation. The UV-visible absorption spectrum exhibits bands characteristic of Fe3+ ions coordination in each system. Interesting aspects of FT-IR spectra were found, and this gives information about the structure changes in the constituent units of these glass systems as a function of Fe2O3 concentration. All glasses reveal characteristic absorption bands due to the addition of different ratios of iron which explain the state of iron in each system in terms of its valence and coordination number. Results indicate that iron favors a higher oxidation state (tetrahedral coordination) in the case of sodium silicate glasses. The doping with progressive Fe2O3 additions (0.5−7.5 %) has some effect on the number and position of the characteristic bands due to formation of FeO4 groups. The IR absorption spectra after irradiation reveal limited changes in the intensity which can be correlated with minor changes in bond angles and /or bond lengths within the structural units by irradiation.