Bi2O3-Induced Modulation of Structure and Multifunctional Properties in Li2O–TeO2–P2O5 Glasses: From Optical Bandgap to Mechanical Strength
摘要
This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the structural, optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of xBi2O3-(0.45−x)Li2O-0.35TeO2-0.20P2O5 glasses (x = 0.05, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.35) synthesized via the melt-quenching technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of all glass samples, indicating the absence of long-range crystalline order. Systematic variation in Bi2O3 concentration led to a notable increase in density (from 3.87 to 5.98 g/cm3) and molar volume, reflecting the substitution of lighter Li2O by heavier Bi2O3 and subsequent structural expansion. Tauc’s plot reveals the decrease in optical bandgap energy from 3.78 eV to 3.24 eV, while the refractive index increased from 2.21 to 2.33 with the addition of Bi2O3. Electrical measurements demonstrated that the interplay between Bi2O3 and Li2O modulates the mixed ionic–electronic conduction, with Bi2O3 improving network connectivity and Li2O enhancing ionic mobility. The mechanical properties of these glasses were evaluated by ultrasonic velocity measurements, which demonstrate increment in the bulk modulus (from 53.89 GPa to 79.01 GPa), Young’s modulus (from 87.86 GPa to 118.25 Gpa), shear modulus (35.78 GPa to 47.01Gpa), and the Poisson ratio (from 0.227 to 0.253) with Bi2O3 doping. This study establishes strong correlations between composition and multifunctional properties, demonstrating that precise control of Bi2O3 content enables the tailoring of glass characteristics for specific applications.