The experimental and theoretical investigations on the structure of the gadolinium–lead–tellurate glasses

The purpose of this paper was to approach the structure of gadolinium–lead–tellurate glasses with compositions xGd2O3 (100 − x)[7TeO2·3PbO], x = 0–90 mol% using the X-ray diffraction, DFT calculations, FTIR, EPR and UV–VIS spectroscopy. Our results show that the doping with gadolinium ions will deform the Te–O–Te linkages, will affect the length of TeO bonds and the accommodation of the network with excess of oxygen will be realized by the reorganization of the tellurate structural units. These affinities pronounced of the lead and gadolinium cations towards tellurium atoms yield the formation of the Pb2Te3O8 and Gd2Te6O15 crystalline phases because tellurate structural units can adopt a variety of structures due to the presence of the lone-pair electrons.

► Pronounced affinities of the lead and gadolinium ions towards [TeO3] structural units. ► The reorganization of the tellurate structural units and the formation of new [Te3O8]−4 and [Te6O15]−6 structural units. ► Pb2Te3O8 and Gd2Te6O15 crystalline phases.