XPS, FTIR, DSC and optical absorption investigations on 55B2O3–20ZnO–(25-x)Li2O–xBi2O3 (0≤x≤25 mol%) glass system

Abstract

Melt quenching was employed to synthesize 55B2O3–20ZnO–(25-x)Li2O–xBi2O3 (0≤x≤25 mol%) glass system. XRD, FTIR, DSC, EDX, XPS and optical absorption studies were conducted to elucidate structural, thermal and optical properties of glasses. Both XRD and DSC patterns proved the non-crystallinity of glasses. EDX analysis disclosed the existence of all constituent ions in the respective glasses. FTIR spectra illustrated that the glass contains BO3, BO4, BiO6 alongside B-O-B and mixed covalent and ionic Zn-O-B/B-O-Bi/Zn-O-Bi/Bi-O-Bi linkages. Variations in thermal properties of glasses were corroborated with physical and structural investigations. The variations in optical properties like Eopt, ∆E, n, M, RM, Ʌth and αo2− were well correlated with structural changes occurred with Bi2O3. XPS data validated the existence of non-bridging oxygens and found to be responsible for the variations in optical properties of all glasses. The high thermal stability of BZLBi3 could be useful for fiber drawing applications.