Structural role of In2O3 in PbO–P2O5–As2O3 glass system by means of spectroscopic and dielectric studies

Abstract

Abstract PbO–P 2 O 5 –As 2 O 3 glasses containing different concentrations of In 2 O 3 (ranging from 0 to 5 mol%) were prepared. A number of studies, viz., chemical durability, differential thermal analysis, spectroscopic (infrared, optical absorption and Raman spectra) and dielectric properties (constant ɛ ′, loss tan δ , ac conductivity σ ac over a range of frequency and temperature) of these glasses have been carried out. The studies on chemical durability indicate that there is a significant increase in the corrosion resistance of the glasses; where as the results of differential thermal analysis suggests that there is a substantial improvement in the glass forming ability, with increase in the concentration of In 2 O 3 in the glass matrix. The spectroscopic investigations point out that the indium ions mostly take part network forming positions with InO 6 structural units and increase the rigidity of the glass network. The studies of dielectric properties reveal that the presence of indium oxide in the glass network causes a considerable improvement in the insulating strength of the lead phosphate glasses.