Structural characterization of sulfoborate glasses containing magnesium oxide

Abstract

Magnesium sulfoborate glasses of different compositions were prepared using melt quenching method with the purpose of using it for optical properties. The Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) have been carried out. Density and molar volume have been evaluated and analysed. From the results of XRD, the absent of discrete and continuous sharp peaks confirmed the amorphous nature of the glass compositions while the results from both FTIR and NMR revealed the existence of BO3, BO4 units. Addition of MgO to sulfoborate influenced the conversion of the dominant BO3 groups to BO4 groups. The BO4 groups are known for creating complex defects that transform into that stable trap good for optical phenomena. It was observed that the density of glass increases while the molar volume is decreases with respect to increase in concentration of alkaline earth oxide in the glass compositions.