LAUSR

This work discusses some new insights into the structural and thermal properties of the glass system $$\hbox {TeO}_{2}$$TeO2–$$\hbox {Li}_{2}\hbox {O}$$Li2O–$$\hbox {MoO}_{3}$$MoO3. Glasses in the composition $$(80 - 2x)$$(80-2x)$$\hbox {TeO}_{2}$$TeO2 − $$x\hbox {Li}_{2}\hbox {O}$$xLi2O − $$(20 + x)$$(20+x)$$\hbox {MoO}_{3}$$MoO3 (TLM) where $$x\,=\,0,\,5,\,10,\,15$$x=0,5,10,15 and 20 mol% were prepared by the melt-quenching technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, density, refractive index, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). XRD data confirmed the amorphous character of the samples. In addition, the glass transition ($$T_{\mathrm{g}}$$Tg), the onset crystallization ($$T_{\mathrm{x}}$$Tx), and the first exothermic peak at the crystallization temperatures ($$T_{\mathrm{c}}$$Tc) were determined from DSC scans. Thermal stability ($$\Delta T = T_{\mathrm{x}}-T_{\mathrm{g}}$$ΔT=Tx-Tg) increases up to $$x\,=\,15\,\hbox {mol}\%$$x=15mol% followed by a decrease for higher x. Raman results showed that when x increases, the Te–O–Mo linkages form, meaning that Li$$_2$$2O addition breaks the Te units and Mo-units in the studied glasses. The Te–O–Mo linkages enhance the thermal stability values, increasing the oxygen packing density. The formation of these linkages also alters the refractive index and the electronic polarizability behaviors. In summary, this work shows that the addition of $$\hbox {Li}_2\hbox {O}$$Li2O in the $$\hbox {TeO}_{2}$$TeO2–$$\hbox {MoO}_{3}$$MoO3 system enhances the thermal stability and changes the electronic polarizability behavior, showing the potential of the studied material for technological applications.