Structure in nitrate glasses: Non-random ion distribution in glasses of the type MII(NO3)2/NH4NO3

Several glasses of the nitrates of Mg2+, Cd2+ and Ca2+ with ammonium nitrate have been studied. The factors influencing the variation of the vibrational band associated with the symmetrical stretching motion are discussed. The profile for this vibrational band is component-band-analysed with the aid of time correlation functions and theta functions and it is shown that for all systems several band components are present. Some of these are clearly best described as arising from environments in which the anion is associated with cations of both charge types while other bands are more probably associated with essentially isotropic cation environments of one charge type. There is shown to be little contribution from hot bands in the band profile.