Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
The FT-IR absorption and Raman scattering were used in order to obtain information concerning the short range order in xCuO·(100-x)[ 2TeO2·PbO·0.2Ag2O](0 ≤x≤ 5 mol%) glasses. Moreover, the changes in tellurium atoms coordination that occurs with copper oxide addition were followed. Both techniques reveal that tellurium is disposed in the network structure in trigonal bipyramids (TeO4), trigonal pyramids (TeO3) along with TeO3+1 polyhedra units. Increasing the CuO content in the glasses changes the coordination of tellurium atoms from 4 to 3 through the so-called 3+1 intermediate units, simultaneously with the increase of the non-bridging oxygen (NBOs) ions amount causing a depolymerization process in the glass structure.