Dual Effect of B3+ and Pb2+ Ions on the Elasticity and Semiconducting Nature of Sodium Zinc Borate Glass.

The influence of B3+ and Pb2+ ions on the electrical and mechanical properties of a borate network was extensively studied. A 30B2O3–10ZnO–60Na2O core network was prepared using the commercial melt/quenching technique and inlaid by different concentrations of B2O3 + Pb3O4 at the expense of Na2O. The impact of Pb2+ and B3+ ions on the mechanical properties were studied through ultrasonic wave velocities, elastic moduli, and microhardness. The more bridging oxygens BO4 that brought to the considered borate network due to the more addition of B2O3 and conversion of BO3 to BO4 via Pb2+ ions penetration, formation of PbO6, and formation of the strong bonds B–O–Pb reinforced elastic moduli and microhardness of the studied borate network. Electrical properties through dielectric constant, electric modulus, impedance, and ac conductivity were extensively studied. The dielectric constant and electric modulus showed a behavior up to 20 mol % of Pb2+ and 35 mol % of B3+ differs from after that concentration, while ac conductivity differs at 40 mol % of Pb2+ and 50 mol % of B3+ from before that concentration. The results of the dependence of conductivity on frequency and temperature showed that the considered glass have a semiconducting nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]