IR and Raman investigation on the structure of (100-x)[0.33B2O3–0.67ZnO]–xV2O5 glasses

Abstract Glasses with molar composition of (100- x )[0.33B 2 O 3 –0.67ZnO]– x V 2 O 5 , x  = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20, were prepared, and the effect of V 2 O 5 on the structure of the glass was investigated by IR and Raman spectroscopy, TEM and DTA. This investigation shows that [BO 3 ], [BO 4 ] and [VO 4 ] structural units are the predominant coordination polyhedra in the borovanadate glass. From the vanadium-free zinc borate glass, meta-, di-, pyro- and orthoborate groups were observed. Adding V 2 O 5 leads to the random substitution of [BO 3 ] or [BO 4 ] units in these borate groups by the [VO 4 ] units, forming corresponding borovanadate groups. With increasing V 2 O 5 content, the transition temperature of the glass decreases, that comes from the decrease of the interconnection of the structure units and the substitution of O–B–O by weaker O–V–O linkages.