Boron environments and irradiation stability of iron borophosphate glasses analysed by EELS

• Published in: Solid state sciences Vol. 10; no. 9; pp. 1194 - 1199
• Main Authors: Bingham, P.A., Yang, G., Hand, R.J., Möbus, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier Masson SAS 01.09.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; EELS; Electrons and positron radiation effects; Exact sciences and technology; Glass; Glasses (including metallic glasses); Irradiation; Materials science; Microscopy; Physical radiation effects, radiation damage; Physics; Specific materials; Structure; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; TEM; Irradiation; Microscopy; Structure; TEM; Glass; EELS; Borophosphate glass; Radiation effects; Annealing; Iron oxide; Doses; Silicates; Phosphate glass; Electron energy loss spectra; Iron compounds; Electron beams; Transmission electron microscopy; EEL spectroscopy; Electron irradiation; Phase separation; Damage; Borates
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2007.11.024
• ISSN: 1293-2558

The coordination and stability under electron irradiation of boron in glasses with nominal molar composition 60P 2O 5 − (40 − x)Fe 2O 3 − xB 2O 3, for which x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20, have been investigated for the first time by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Analyses confirm that boron is present in un-irradiated samples as tetrahedral BO 4 units; there is no evidence of any trigonal BO 3 units. TEM analysis reveals no tendency for sub-micron phase separation of the as-annealed glass. Iron borophosphate glasses exhibit high resistance to structural damage by electron beam irradiation by comparison with literature values for a range of other silicate and phosphate glasses. Large doses of highly intense irradiation result in the conversion of BO 4 to BO 3 units. The high irradiation resistance of these glasses could be related to the absence of mobile classical network modifiers such as alkalis and their associated non-bridging oxygens. [Display omitted]