Structural investigations of copper doped B2O3-Bi2O3 glasses with high bismuth oxide content

Raman and infrared spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the 99.5%[xB(2)O(3)(1 - x)Bi2O3]0.5%CuO glasses with different Bi/B nominal ratios (0.07 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.625) in order to obtain information about the competitive role of B,03 and Bi2O3 in the formation of the glass network. The glass samples have been prepared by melting at 1100 degreesC and rapidly cooling at room temperature. In order to relax the structure, to improve the local order and to develop crystalline phases the glass samples were kept at 575 degreesC for 10 h. The influence of both Bi2O3 and CuO on the vitreous B2O3 network as well as the local order changes around bismuth and boron atoms in as prepared and heat treated samples was studied. Structural modifications occurring in heat treated samples compared to the untreated glasses have been observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.