Effect of Bi2O3 content on physical and optical properties of 15Li2O-15K2O-xBi2O3-(65-x) B2O3: 5V2O5 glass system

Multi-component bismuth borate glasses doped with vanadium ions 15Li(2)O-15K(2)O-xBi(2)O(3)-(65-x) B2O3: 5V(2)O(5), (x=3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15) have been prepared using conventional melt quench technique. Characterization of the prepared glasses has been done using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and density measurements. The effect of Bi2O3 content on the optical properties of the present glass system is studied from the optical absorption spectra recorded in the wavelength range 200-800 nm. The fundamental absorption edge has been identified from the optical absorption spectra. The values of optical band gap for indirect allowed transitions have been determined using available theories. The origin of the Urbach energy is associated with the phonon-assisted indirect transitions. The density and molar volume studies indicate that Bi2O3 in these glasses is acting partly as network modifier and partly as network former. The variations in the optical band gap energies, density and molar volume with Bi2O3 content have been discussed in terms of changes in the glass structure. Values of the theoretical optical basicity, average crosslink density and the average electronic polarizability are also reported. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.