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.