Structure of ZnO–Fe2O3–P2O5 glasses probed by Raman and IR spectroscopy

Abstract

The structure of three ZnO–Fe2O3–P2O5 glass series was investigated by Raman and IR spectroscopy. Raman and IR spectral changes with increasing O/P ratio from 2.8 to 3.7 were summarized. Band assignments were carried out according to previous investigations and spectral changes. Spectral changes mainly include relative amplitudes decrease of Raman bands at ~1344, ~1205 and ~705cm−1, relative amplitudes increase of Raman bands at ~947 and ~1080cm−1, intensification of the overlaps of IR absorption bands in the region of 900–1400cm−1, obvious decrease in relative amplitudes of IR bands at ~1351, ~1251, ~780 and ~480cm−1 and the shift of the band at ~480cm−1 to higher wavenumber. These spectral changes have shown a gradual depolymerization of phosphate network and the variation of dominant structural units from Q2 to Q1 species with increasing O/P ratio from 2.8 to 3.7. A small quantity of Q1, Q0 and Q2 species were also detected in our glasses with O/P ratios in the range of 2.8–3.0, 3.0–3.5 and 3.5–3.7, respectively. Our investigations will provide guidance to know the structure of other phosphate glass systems.