Three composition-dependent features of the mixed-modifier effect in ternary ZnO–Na2O–B2O3 glasses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-026-16947-0Abstract
Three ternary glass systems with chemical compositions xZnO.(30-x)Na2O.70B2O3, xZnO.(40-x)Na2O.60B2O3, and xZnO.(50-x)Na2O.50 B2O3 were successfully prepared using the melt-quenching method. The structure and electrical properties of the prepared glasses were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and direct-current (DC) conductivity measurements, respectively. A new form of the “mixed modifier effect” was observed in the ternary ZnO–Na2O–B2O3 glasses. This effect was examined through analyzing the relationship between each of activation energy, conductivity, and mobility with the ratio of modifier ion concentrations (NZn(m)/NNa), interionic separation distance of Na+ ions (NNa−1/3), and NNa−3/2. The activation energy varies non-monotonically with ZnO, ranging from 0.81–1.13 eV (70B; maximum at 20 mol% ZnO), 0.76–1.13 eV (60B; maximum at 30 mol% ZnO), and 0.83–1.17 eV (50B; maximum at 40 mol% ZnO). Molecular dynamics simulations further support the experimental trends: the Na⁺ diffusion activation energy increases with ZnO content (e.g., 0.276–0.374 eV in 70B, 0.278–0.362 eV in 60B, and 0.293–-0.343 eV in 50B), confirming Na⁺ as the dominant mobile species and providing atomistic insight into the composition-dependent mixed-modifier features in ZnO–Na2O– B2O3 glasses.References
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