Neutron and X-ray diffraction experiments with large ranges of scattering vector, up to Qmax of 400 nm-1 and 250 nm-1, respectively, were performed on (SnO)x(P25)1-x glasses with 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.7, and the structural parameters of the P[sbnd]O and Sn[sbnd]O polyhedra were determined. The fraction of P—NBO (non-bridging oxygen) bonds increases systematically at the expense of the P—BO (bridging oxygen) bonds with SnO additions. The Sn[sbnd]O coordination number decreases in a predictable way from four at the metaphosphate composition (x = 0.5) to about three at the diphosphate composition (x = 0.67). The structural units are assumed to be SnO 4 trigonal bipyramids and SnO 3 trigonal pyramids with the lone-pair of Sn(II) electrons occupying one of the corners, similar to those in related crystal structures. For all glasses up to x = 0.67, the SnOz pyramids and PO4 tetrahedra form a continuous network with P-O-P and P-O-Sn bonds and the Sn[sbnd]O polyhedra do not share oxygen neighbors. From comparisons of the compositional dependences of the Sn-O and Zn-O coordination numbers and the respective number densities of atoms in the binary tin and zinc phosphate glasses, it is presumed that the Sn[sbnd]O coordination increases further with NSnO > 4 in the ultraphosphate range (x < 0.5).
- Geometry,
- Glass,
- Oxygen,
- X ray diffraction,
- Zinc compounds, Compositional dependence,
- Coordination number,
- Non-bridging oxygen,
- Scattering vectors,
- Structural parameter,
- Trigonal bipyramids,
- Trigonal pyramids,
- Zinc phosphate glass, Nitrogen compounds
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-brow/205/