Influence of morphology and processing on XPS characterisation of SrO–Ca–ZnO–SiO2 glass

摘要

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) has proven and continues to be a useful technique in the characterisation of alkali silicates, alkaline earth silicates, and other novel forms of bioactive glass [1–3]. Binding energy of O 1s electrons is revealing of the role played by cations introduced into a glass network and thus helps to establish the reactivity of different glass formulations [4]. Bridging (BO) and non-bridging oxygens (NBO) corresponding to network formers/modifiers can be distinguished in most cases [3–6]. Network modifiers provoke the disruption of the continuity of the glass network due to the breaking of Si–O–Si bonds [7] with the resulting NBO appearing at a lower binding energy. Hence, the study of the bonding configuration of glasses and the identification of the Si–O– NBO groups by analytical techniques, such as XPS, can contribute to improving the ability to design new glass formulations [7].