Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2013
Valence state and local environment of Fe in complex glasses related to the system Al2O3-B2O3-Fe2O3-Na2O-SiO2 were studied. In all the glasses, the major fraction of Fe exists as Fe3+ ions but a minor fraction of Fe2+ ions especially in the glass with the lowest K=[SiO2]/[B2O3] ratio was also present. Average Fe—O distance in the first shell is 1.80-1.85 Å and coordination number is 4-6. The intensity due to the second sphere is rather weak demonstrating homogeneous distribution of Fe ions in the glass.