Spectroscopic and magnetic behavior of xNd2O3(1−x)(3Bi2O3· PbO) glasses

Abstract Glasses of the x Nd 2 O 3 (1− x )(3Bi 2 O 3 · PbO) system with 0⩽ x ⩽0.30 were obtained and studied by IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), density and magnetic susceptibility measurements. IR and density measurements show that the addition of neodymium ions produces structural changes and the neodymium ions play a network modifier role in the host glass matrix. XPS investigation permitted following the evolution of the structural disorder, of the degree of polymerization of bismuthate chains and of the fraction of bridging oxygens with respect to the neodymium ion concentration of the studied glasses. Magnetic susceptibility data show that the Nd 3+ ions are present as isolated species for x ⩽0.05 and as both isolated and exchange coupled species for higher x values.