Nickel ion—A structural probe in BaO–Al2O3–P2O5 glass system by means of dielectric, spectroscopic and magnetic studies

BaO–Al2O3–P2O5 glasses containing different concentrations of NiO (ranging from 0 to 1.0 mol%) were prepared. A number of studies viz., chemical durability, differential thermal analysis, spectroscopic (infrared, optical absorption spectra), magnetic susceptibility and dielectric properties (constant ε′, loss tan δ, AC conductivity σAC over a range of frequency and temperature) of these glasses have been carried out. The studies on chemical durability indicate that there is a significant increase in the corrosion resistance of the glasses; where as the results of differential thermal analysis suggests that there is a substantial improvement in the glass forming ability, with increase in the concentration of NiO up to 0.6 mol% in the glass matrix. The optical absorption, magnetic susceptibility and IR spectral studies point out nickel ions occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral positions in the glass network; the later positions seems to be dominant when the concentration of NiO is beyond 0.6 mol% in the glass matrix. The studies of dielectric properties reveal that the presence of nickel oxide in the glass network causes a considerable improvement in the insulating strength of the se glasses when the concentration of NiO⩽0.6 mol%.