X-Ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Glasses and Glass-Ceramics Inside the A2O-MoO3-Nb2O5-P2O5 (A= Li, Na) Systems

Abstract

<p>Phosphate glasses in the system (50-x)A<sub>2</sub>O-xMoO<sub>3</sub>-10Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-40P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (AMo-40), with x=0; 30 and A=Li or Na were prepared by the melt quenching method. The effect in the crystallization behaviour of the glass due to the introduction of MoO<sub>3</sub> in the glass composition and varying the molar ratio between network modifiers and network formers (M/F) was studied. The prepared glasses were heat-treated in air, at 550, 600 and 650 ºC for 4 hours. The structure, of the obtained samples, was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and the morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the replacement of Li<sub>2</sub>O or Na<sub>2</sub>O by MoO<sub>3</sub> reduces the number of the crystallised phases. In the lithium-niobiophosphate glasses the presence of MoO<sub>3</sub> promotes the formation of NbOPO<sub>4</sub> and reduces the formation of ortho- and pyro-phosphate phases. The thermal treatments affect the arrangements of the network structure of the AMo-40-glasses.</p>