Defect formation of gamma irradiated MoO3-doped borophosphate glasses

• Base brophosphate glass and Mo-doped glasses were prepared.
• FTIR and UV–Vis. absorption were measured before and after gamma irradiation.
• UV optical data reveals some different changes that related to composition.
• FTIR shows minor variation which are interpreted and discussed.

Borophosphate glasses of the basic composition (50P2O5, 30B2O3, 20Na2O mol%) containing different doping molybdenum oxide percents (0.16–0.98) were prepared by melting and annealing method. Infrared and UV–visible absorption spectroscopic measurements before and after gamma irradiation were carried out. The base undoped borophosphate glass reveals strong UV absorption bands but with no visible bands and these UV bands are related to unavoidable trace iron impurities contaminated within the raw materials used for the preparation of this glass. The introduction of MoO3 (in doping ratio) into this glass produces an additional UV band and a broad visible band and their intensities increase with the MoO3 content. These additional bands are related to both Mo6+ and Mo5+ ions. The base undoped borophosphate glass shows retardation effect towards gamma irradiation. Gamma irradiation produces marked changes in the UV–visible spectra of MoO3-doped glasses. Such changes can be related to the production of induced defects from photochemical reactions and the generation of positive holes. Infrared absorption spectrum of the undoped borophosphate glass reveals complex vibrational bands due to the presence of both phosphate groups beside borate groups with triangular and tetrahedrally coordinated units. The introduction of MoO3 causes some limited variations in the FTIR spectra. Gamma irradiation produces minor changes in the intensities of some IR bands. Such changes are related to the changes in the bond angles and/or bond lengths of few structural groups upon irradiation while the main structural groups remain unchanged in their number and position.

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