| Abstract Scope |
Glass formation is a cooperative process between the network former and the modifier ions in glass. In this context, the overall glass structure can be viewed as the result of a balance between the needs of modifier ions to create suitable coordination environments (sites) and the chemical versatility of the network former to provide such sites. The knowledge of the complex environments around metal ions is important for understanding the composition dependence of glass properties like ionic transport, viscosity, performance of glass as host material for laser ions and basicity. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a useful technique to probe both the network former structure (mid-IR) and the modifier ion sites (far-IR), while impedance spectroscopy is suitable for studying ion dynamics in broad frequency and temperature ranges. In this presentation we review results on glass structure and ion dynamics on metal ion containing oxide glasses including single and mixed ion borate, silicate and phosphate glasses formed by melt-quenching or ion-exchange. Results are discussed in relation to those of molecular dynamics on selected glasses. |