STRUCTURAL EFFECT OF THORIUM ON THE LOCAL ORDER IN A PHOSPHATE GLASS MATRIX

Abstract

The influence of ThO 2 addition on the local order of 2P 2 O 5 · Na 2 O glass matrix was investigated by IR and EPR spectroscopic analyses of non-irradiated and gamma-irradiated x ThO 2(100-x)[ 2P 2 O 5 · Na 2 O ] glass samples (0 ≤ x < 20 mol %). After the applied gamma irradiation treatments, the IR spectra are not significantly modified. The as-prepared samples and also the unirradiated samples examined after two years do not give rise to any EPR signal at the room temperature. The applied gamma irradiation treatments induce paramagnetic defects. The EPR spectra consist of doublets attributed to an electron trapped at a nonbridging oxygen vacancy.