The effect of copper ions addition on structural and optical properties of zinc borate glasses

Glasses in the ternary system xCuO∙(100 − x)[55B2O3·45ZnO] (0 ≤ x ≤ 20 mol%) have been prepared by melting at 1200 °C and rapidly cooling at room temperature. The effect of copper ions addition in 55B2O3·45ZnO glass matrix together with the matrix effect on paramagentic behavior has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy and density measurements. The increase of the number of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) atoms as a function of CuO content in these glasses leads to the decrease of glass polymerization which reduces the stability of the glasses and favors the association of copper ions in clusters. This leads to the major changes of structural and optical properties of the studied glasses as can be seen from the data obtained by FTIR and EPR spectroscopies.

► CuO–B2O3–ZnO glasses were synthesized using the melt-quenching technique.
► FTIR data show that the CuO plays the network modifier role in the studied glasses.
► EPR spectra exhibit resonance signals characteristic of Cu2 + ions.
► UV–VIS spectra show a single band due to Cu2 + ions in distorted octahedral sites.