Effect of Bi2O3 addition on electron paramagnetic resonance, optical absorption, and conductivity in vanadyl-doped Li2O-K2O-Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses.

Glasses with composition 15Li(2)O-15K(2)O-xBi(2)O(3)-(65 - x)-B(2)O(3)/5V(2)O(5) (3 ≤ x ≤ 15) have been prepared by the conventional melt quench technique. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of VO(2+) in these glasses have been recorded in the X-band frequency (≈9.3 GHz) at room temperature. The spin Hamiltonian parameters and covalency rates were evaluated. It was found that the V(4+) ions exist as vanadyl (VO(2+)) ions and are in an octahedral coordination with a tetragonal compression. The covalency rates (1 - α(2)) and (1 - γ(2)) indicate moderate covalency for the σ- and π-bonds. It was observed that the spin-Hamiltonian parameters depend slightly on the relative concentration of Bi(2)O(3). The optical properties of this glass system are 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 direct current electrical conductivity, σ, has been measured in the temperature range 373-573 K. The conductivity decreases with the increase in Bi(2)O(3) concentration. This has been discussed in terms of the decrease in the number of mobile ions and their mobility. An attempt is made to correlate the EPR, optical, and electrical results and to find the effect of Bi(2)O(3) content on these parameters.