Structural study of iron borate glasses containing NiO and ZnO

Abstract

Iron borate glasses with NiO and ZnO, having composition yNiO-yZnO-xFe₂O₃-(100-x-2y)B₂O₃ (x = 7-20 and y = 4-10 mol%), were prepared by the melt quench route. The structure of the glasses and the structural changes with compositions were investigated by XRD, SEM, DTA, IR, and Mossbauer measurements. IR studies indicate no trace of sixfold boroxol rings, and that the glass network is formed by the randomly connected BO₄ and BO₃ units. The Mossbauer data show that two states of tetrahedrally coordinated iron (Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺) are present in these glasses.