Enhancement of electrical conductivity associated with non-bridged oxygen defects in molybdenum phosphate oxide glass via doping of SrO.

Based on the attractive properties of phosphate glass, improved molybdenum phosphate glasses of composition 40P2O5, 20MoO3, 15MgO, (25-x)Li2O, xSrO, [x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mol %] were prepared via the melt-quench technique. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible reflectance and Electron spin resonance (ESR). FTIR confirmed the existence of several structural phosphate groups other than MoO4 and MoO6 units. Optical analysis revealed the active species of molybdenum ions. SrO addition decreases the bandgap energy, converting the glass insulator features into semiconductor properties. The measured AC electrical conductivity (σac) increased within the temperature range of 298-473(K) and decreased in the frequency range of 0.042 kHz-1 MHz. The estimated DC electrical conductivity increased with temperature, suggesting the semiconducting behavior. The highest electrical conductivity was found in base and 5% SrO samples. Therefore, it appears that the prepared glasses are viable candidates for opto-electronic applications.

Role of SrO on the bioactivity behavior of some ternary borate glasses and their glass ceramic derivatives.

Borate glasses containing SrO substituting both CaO and NaO were prepared and characterized for their bioactivity or bone bonding ability. Glass ceramic derivatives were prepared by thermal heat treatment process. FTIR, XRD and SEM measurements for the prepared glass and glass-ceramics before and after immersion in sodium phosphate solution for one and two weeks were carried out. The appearance of two IR peaks within the range 550-680cm(-1) after immersion in phosphate solution indicates the formation of hydroxyapatite or equivalent Sr phosphate layer. X-ray diffraction data agree with the FTIR spectral analysis. The solubility test was carried out for both glasses and glass ceramics derivatives in the same phosphate solution. The introduction of SrO increases the solubility for both glasses and glass ceramics and this is assumed to be due to the formation of Sr phosphate which is more soluble than calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite). SEM images reveal varying changes in the surfaces of glass ceramics after immersion according to the SrO content.

Defect formation of gamma irradiated MoO3-doped borophosphate glasses.

Borophosphate glasses of the basic composition (50P2O5, 30B2O3, 20Na2O mol%) containing different doping molybdenum oxide percents (0.16-0.98) were prepared by melting and annealing method. Infrared and UV-visible absorption spectroscopic measurements before and after gamma irradiation were carried out. The base undoped borophosphate glass reveals strong UV absorption bands but with no visible bands and these UV bands are related to unavoidable trace iron impurities contaminated within the raw materials used for the preparation of this glass. The introduction of MoO3 (in doping ratio) into this glass produces an additional UV band and a broad visible band and their intensities increase with the MoO3 content. These additional bands are related to both Mo(6+) and Mo(5+) ions. The base undoped borophosphate glass shows retardation effect towards gamma irradiation. Gamma irradiation produces marked changes in the UV-visible spectra of Mo-O3-doped glasses. Such changes can be related to the production of induced defects from photochemical reactions and the generation of positive holes. Infrared absorption spectrum of the undoped borophosphate glass reveals complex vibrational bands due to the presence of both phosphate groups beside borate groups with triangular and tetrahedrally coordinated units. The introduction of MoO3 causes some limited variations in the FTIR spectra. Gamma irradiation produces minor changes in the intensities of some IR bands. Such changes are related to the changes in the bond angles and/or bond lengths of few structural groups upon irradiation while the main structural groups remain unchanged in their number and position.

Optical and infrared absorption spectra of 3d transition metal ions-doped sodium borophosphate glasses and effect of gamma irradiation.

Undoped and transition metals (3d TM) doped sodium borophosphate glasses were prepared. UV-visible absorption spectra were measured in the region 200-900nm before and after gamma irradiation. Experimental optical data indicate that the undoped sodium borophosphate glass reveals before irradiation strong and broad UV absorption and no visible bands could be identified. Such UV absorption is related to the presence of unavoidable trace iron impurities within the raw materials used for preparation of this base borophosphate glass. The TMs-doped glasses show absorption bands within the UV and/or visible regions which are characteristic to each respective TM ion in addition to the UV absorption observed from the host base glass. Infrared absorption spectra of the undoped and TMs-doped glasses reveal complex FTIR consisting of extended characteristic vibrational bands which are specific for phosphate groups as a main constituent but with the sharing of some vibrations due to the borate groups. This criterion was investigated and approved using DAT (deconvolution analysis technique). The effects of different TMs ions on the FTIR spectra are very limited due to the low doping level (0.2%) introduced in the glass composition. Gamma irradiation causes minor effect on the FTIR spectra specifically the decrease of intensities of some bands. Such behavior is related to the change of bond angles and/or bond lengths of some structural building units upon gamma irradiation.