Structural investigation of gallate glass using L3-edge extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy and computer simulation

• Pr3Ga5O12 glasses were synthesized using an aerodynamic levitation and laser heating.
• EXAFS and MD simulations were used to reveal the structure of Pr3Ga5O12 glasses.
• A good agreement between the measured data and the MD-EXAFS is produced.
• A PrO polyhedral structure and a predominant GaO4 tetrahedral network are shown.

L3-edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) studies have been carried out on a praseodymium gallate glass (Pr3Ga5O12) prepared by aerodynamic levitation and laser heating. The short range ordering around the rare-earth has been obtained by combined technique including molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The results give an average PrO coordination number of 6.68(2) and a mean GaO coordination number of 4.29(2). A good agreement between the experimental data and the simple molecular dynamics simulations give rising a glass network of a PrO polyhedral structure and a predominant GaO4 tetrahedral network in this glass.