Paramagnetic sites in alkali germanate glasses

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of sodium–germanate glasses (xGeO2·(1−x)Na2O, 0.65<x<1) prepared by the conventional melting technique are analyzed as a function of the Na2O content, before and after X-ray irradiation. Signals due to three-fold coordinated Ge sites (Ge E′ centers) and non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHCs) are observed, whereas no signal due to paramagnetic centers related to GeO6 sites is detected. At high Na2O concentration, a broad signal at g=2.21 is also observed. The EPR results suggest three main mechanisms for the Na+ ion insertion: interstitial; network modifier; a source of medium range structural rearrangements of GeO4 tetrahedra.