Determination of the mesostructure of lead borate glasses using laser photoionization mass spectroscopy

摘要

We have investigated the structure of lead borate glasses up to high lead contents using a high-resolution reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The glasses showed the repeatable presence of intermediate-range units, which varied in relative abundance depending on composition. This direct measurement of the network showed a high abundance of (B_(3)O_(5)) and (PbB_(3)O_(6)) groups, which are likely to arise from metaborate rings, as well as the rise of ortho- and pyroborate units. Smaller quantities of entire diborate units (B_(4)O_(9), with added lead and boron atoms for charge compensation) were also observed.