Structural study of laser host phosphate glasses prepared through novel microwave route

Glasses of (80-x) NaPO₃ -20 ZnO - x Nd₂O₃ system with x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 mol% have been prepared by energy efficient microwave route. The glasses were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) techniques. We report physical properties, glass transition (T_g), Vicker´s hardness (H_v) and Infrared spectroscopic studies of the investigated glasses within the compositional region 0.1 to 0.7 mol% Nd₂O₃. Density, molar volume, T_g and H_v exhibit composition dependence. Analysis of IR spectra reveals that Nd₂O₃ causes structural changes in the glass network, although there is no major shifts in the peak positions, band intensities show composition dependent trends. Density, molar volume, T_g and H_v monotonically increases with Nd₂O₃ concentration. The observed variation of properties can be well understood by analyzing the modification in the network.