Electrical and spectroscopic characteristics of B2O3–Bi2O3–Al2O3–MgO glasses alloyed with MnO

In this study, the dielectric properties, electron spin resonance (ESR), optical absorption spectra, emission spectra, Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectra were determined for the glass network 65B2O3–20Bi2O3–10Al2O3-(5-x)MgO-xMnO (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 mol%). The glass system was prepared by using the melt quenching and heat treatment process. Dielectric parameters were evaluated for the glasses in the broad frequency range (103–106 Hz), and the parameters indicated increases in the semiconducting nature of the glasses. ESR and emission spectra obtained for the samples demonstrated the presence of manganese ions in the divalent state. The optical absorption spectra contained bands due to Mn2+ ions. The optical band gap (Eg) and Urbach energy (ΔE) values were calculated for the samples. The Eg value decreased as the MnO concentration increased whereas the ΔE value tended to decrease, thereby suggesting a gradual decrease in the strength of the glasses. The amorphous properties of the glasses were demonstrated by the XRD spectra. The spectroscopic and dielectric analyses indicated the depolymerization of the glasses. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd