Structural investigations on PbO-Sb₂O₃-B ₂O₃:CoO glass ceramics by means of spectroscopic and dielectric studies

PbO-Sb₂O₃-B₂O₃ glasses mixed with different concentrations of CoO (ranging from 0 to 2.0mol%) were crystallized. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetric techniques. The x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic studies have revealed the presence of CoSb₂O₆, Co_2.33Sb _0.67O₄, Pb₅Sb₂O₈,Pb ₃(SbO₄)₂, PbB₄O₇ and Co₃O₄ crystalline phases in these samples. The DSC studies have indicated the spreading of the crystallization from the inside to the surface of the samples as the concentration of the crystallizing agent is increased. The IR and Raman spectroscopic studies have pointed out the existence of conventional BO₃, BO₄, SbO₄ and also Co^III-O structural units in the glass ceramic samples. These studies have further indicated the decreasing concentration of symmetrical structural vibrational groups with increase in the concentration of CoO. The results of various studies, namely dielectric properties over a range of frequency and temperature, photo-induced birefringence, optical absorption, fluorescence and magnetic susceptibility at room temperature of PbO-Sb₂O ₃-B₂O₃:CoO glass ceramics, have also been reported. The variations observed as a function of the concentration of crystallizing agent in all these properties have been analyzed in the light of different oxidation states and environments of cobalt ions in the glass ceramic network.