Studies on Rare Earth Polyphosphate Glasses of the Composition [Na_xM_{(1 − x)/2a}Gd_{(1 − x)/2a}PO₃]_n

A fusion technique was used for the preparation of derivatives of the composition [Na _x M_{(1− x)/2a} Gd_{(1− x)/2a} PO₃] _n (where M = bivalent metal like Cu(II), Ca(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), and Mg (II); x = 1/2, 3/4, & 2/3; and a = valency of metal). Composition of these polyphosphate glasses was confirmed by their analyses for metals and phosphorus. The polymeric nature of all polyphosphate glasses was confirmed by the determination of a number average molecular weight (M _n ). The characteristic frequencies in the IR spectra are supportive of the presence of polyphosphate indicative of the polymeric nature of these derivatives. From X-ray diffraction, the amorphous nature of complex polyphosphates has been determined.

Keywords:

• Polyphosphate glasses
• rare earth

Acknowledgments

Mahesh K. Samota is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for financial support in the form of direct Junior Research Fellow vide grant No. 9/149 (325)/2K3-EMR-I.