Structural studies on new xCeO2·(50 − x)PbO·50B2O3 glasses and glass ceramics

Abstract Influence of CeO2 substitution for PbO on network structure of the glasses in the system xCeO2 −(50 − x)PbO·50B2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 50 mol%) has been studied. Stretching and bending vibrations due to Ce O, Pb O and B O bonds were assigned on the bases of their FTIR absorbance spectra. The quantitative values represent CeO4, PbO4 and BO4 species have been determined. The results were correlated with data based on X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Electron Diffraction Pattern (EDP) spectroscopies. The fraction of different tetrahedral structural units (B4) is a significant variable parameter in altering the structure changes. The determined values of fraction of tetrahedral boron (N4) obtained from FTIR spectra agree well with that obtained from 11B MAS NMR spectra of the same glasses having ≤ 7.5 mol% CeO2. The lowest value of fraction of tetrahedral groups (B4) is found at 50 mol% CeO2 (lead free glass). In this regard, 50CeO2-50B2O3 composition showed lower value of B4 than that found in 50PbO-50B2O3 glass.