Charge transport mechanism and mechanical properties of rubidium cerium metaphosphate glasses

Cerium-doped glasses usually contain a mixture of Ce3+ and Ce4+ species, with the trivalent state being dominant. Quantitative determination of the redox ratio is complicated by the narrow energy gap between both states, leading to spectral overlap in optical absorption studies, and strong beam sensitivity in other techniques. However, it also indicates a way to induce electric conduction through electron hopping, with the additional benefit of visual transparency. Here, cerium phosphate glasses are reported in which the local optical basicity is varied through substitution of cerium by highly polarizable rubidium ions. This is done in order to control the Ce3+/ Ce4+ ratio. Electrical impedance spectroscopy is considered as an alternative means to assess the redox ratio by exploring the extent of polaron conduction. Complementary Raman and 31P MAS NMR spectroscopic studies provide structural insight on the process of mixed electronic and ionic charge transport. Meanwhile, a monotonic decrease in the elastic modulus and an abnormal change in Poisson's ratio when varying the composition corroborate structural interpretations.