Impact of ZnO on Physical, Structural, and Optical Properties of Sodium Strontium Borate Glasses

Glasses comprising B2O3 as network former, Na2O and SrO as network modifiers, and ZnO as intermediate component have been synthesized using melt quenching technique. The composition of the prepared glasses is xZnO–10SrO–20Na2O–(70 – x)B2O3 with x = 0, 3, 6, and 9 mol %. Physical and structural properties of the glass samples were evaluated using density and molar volume measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Density and molar volume were determined using the Archimedes principle with benzene as the solvent and their variation with the change in ZnO concentration was observed. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the prepared glass samples. The FTIR analysis, carried out in the range of 400–1600 cm–1, exhibited the various functional groups present in the glass structure. The evaluation of energy band gap and other important optical parameters has been done through UV-Visible spectroscopy. The results from these experimental methods are in good agreement with each other and with the relevant scientific literature.