Electronic transport properties of mixed transition metal ions doped borophosphate glasses

A series of borophosphate glasses in the composition (B2O3)0.10–(P2O5)0.40–(CuO)0.50−x–(MoO3)x; 0.05 ⩽ x ⩾ 0.50 have been investigated for room temperature density and dc conductivity over the temperature range from 350 to 650 K. The density decreased with increase in MoO3 over the composition range studied except a slight increase around 0.35 mole fraction. The observed initial decrease in conductivity with the addition of MoO3 has been attributed to the hindrance offered by the Mo+ ions to the electronic motions. The observed peak-like behavior in conductivity in the composition range 0.20 – 0.50 mol% of MoO3 is ascribed to the mixed transition metal ion effect (MTE). Mott’s small polaron hopping model has been used to analyze the high temperature conductivity data and the activation energy for conduction has been determined. The low temperature conductivity has been analyzed in view of Mott’s and Greaves variable range hopping models. It is for the first time that conduction mechanisms have been explored and MTE detected in mixed transition metal ions doped borophosphate glasses.