Na+/K+ ion exchange in silicate glasses: Results from 17O 3QMAS NMR

The effect of Na+/K+ ion exchange on the distribution of the modifier ions and on their interaction with the oxygen atoms in the network is investigated in ternary Na,Mg- and Na,Ca- silicate glasses using 17O triple-quantum magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicate that the K+ ions preferentially exchange with the Na+ ions present in {Na,Ca}-NBO and {Na,Mg}-NBO environments, while the Na-NBO environment is not significantly affected. Remelting of the ion-exchanged glasses leads to a homogenization of the modifier ion distribution around the NBO sites. The dynamical site preference for the Na+/K+ ion exchange has far-reaching implications in our understanding of the alkali ion transport and more specifically of the mixed-alkali effect in silicate glasses.