The structure of vitreous P2O5 studied by high-energy X-ray diffraction

Diffraction of hard X-rays (140 kV) has been used to determine the structure of vitreous P2O5. The new data obtained at a wiggler beamline of a synchrotron augment earlier neutron- and Ag Kα X-ray data. The new X-ray correlation function reveals two lengths of P–O bonds (143.2±0.5 and 158.1±0.3 pm) and a clear peak of P–P distances at 294.2±0.5 pm. A mean angle of 137° is calculated for the P–O–P bridges.