FTIR of binary lead borate glass: Structural investigation

• Glass series of composition x B2O3 – (100−x) PbO, x = (20–80) mol% were prepared.
• Increasing conversion rate of BO3 to BO4 groups was observed at high PbO content.
• Calculated structural parameters were correlated to the experimental data.
• It can be suggested that this glass can be used as a laser host material.

The glass samples were prepared according to the following formula: (100−x) B2O3 – x PbO, where x = 20–80 mol% by melt quenching method. The density of the prepared samples was measured and molar volume was calculated. IR spectra were measured for the prepared samples to investigate the glass structure. The IR spectra were deconvoluted using curves of Gaussian shape at approximately the same frequencies. The deconvoluted data were used to study the effect of PbO content on all the structural borate groups. Some structural parameters such as density, packing density, bond length and bond force constant were theoretically calculated and were compared to the obtained experimental results. Deviation between the experimental and theoretically calculated parameters reflects the dual role of PbO content on the network of borate glass.