Influence of Y2O3 on structural and optical properties of SiO2-BaO-ZnO-xB2O3-(10-x)Y2O3 glasses and glass ceramics

SiO2-BaO-ZnO-xB(2)O(3)-(10-x)Y2O3 (0 <= x <= 10) glasses are synthesized. The effect of Y2O3 on the structural and optical properties of glasses has been investigated using different characterization techniques. The results are discussed in light of non-bridging oxygens (NBO), optical basicity and heat-treatment of glasses. The band gap has been calculated for as cast and heat-treated glasses. The band gap energy is found to decrease with the increasing content of Y2O3 in the glasses and heat-treatment. The presence of the crystalline phase in the glass matrix showed remarkable effect on band gap which decreases to semiconducting range. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.