Structural role of rare earth ions in lead borate glasses evidenced by infrared spectroscopy:: BO3⇆BO4 conversion

Influence of rare earth ions on structural behavior in lead borate glasses has been investigated using infrared spectroscopy. The structural changes have been analyzed with increasing rare earth concentration. Partial BO3 <-> BO4 conversion as a function of rare earth concentration is observed only for the smaller heavier lanthanides, whereas for the larger lighter lanthanides the concentration effect has not been found. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.