Microstructure and electrical properties of manganese borosilicate glasses

•Oxide glasses containing high amount of manganese were obtained.•Two-phase microsctructure of glasses was observed.•Optical and electrical properties were studied by UV–vis and impedance spectroscopy.•XPS and magnetic measurements was used to find out the configuration of Mn atoms.•Manganese occurs mainly as Mn2 + ions in the High-Spin configuration.

The structure, optical and electrical properties of manganese borosilicate glasses of the composition xMnO–(80 − x)SiO2–20B2O3 (x = 40, 50, and 60 mol%) were investigated. The dependence of the glass structure on its composition was discussed and related to electrical properties. A separation of two amorphous phases was observed. It was suggested that one phase is MnO-rich and the other is SiO2-rich. It was found that the conductivity of MnO-rich phase is much higher than the conductivity of the other phase. The analysis of the valence states of manganese suggest that the transition metal ions are mainly present at second oxidation state. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show antiferromagnetic interactions in samples.