XRD and FTIR structural investigations of erbium-doped bismuth–lead–silver glasses and glass ceramics

Glasses with the xEr2O3(100 − x)[72Bi2O3·25PbO·3Ag2O] composition where x = 0–20 mol% were prepared and later thermally treated. The local environments characteristic of this system were investigated using X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. The results show that the glass or glass ceramic network structure resembles to that of the host matrix, being composed of [BiO3], [BiO6], [PbO3] and [PbO4] structural units. The addition of Er2O3 stabilizes the host glass or glass ceramic structure. The erbium ions play the role of a network modifier in the studied glasses. It was shown that the heat treatment at 650 °C leads to the crystallization of the Bi2O3 and PbO1.44 phases.