LAUSR

Abstract The current scientific investigation deals with some significant results pertaining to the effect of substituting lead oxide on properties of lithium borate glasses having composition xPbO·(30-x)Li2O·70B2O3 + 2 mol% MoO3 (x = 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 mol%, PLBM1-7). These glasses have been synthesized through appropriate melt-quench route and the non-crystalline phase formation has been confirmed through peak free X-ray diffraction measurements. Theoretical optical basicity (Λth), density (ρ) and molar volume (Vm) are observed to increase with increase in PbO content. dc conductivity has been observed to exhibit mixed electronic-ionic behaviour. DTA has been carried out to determine glass transition (Tg), crystallization (Tx) and liquidus (Tl) temperature. FTIR spectra depicted that PbO is modifying the structure of lithium borate matrix. The optical absorption spectra reveals that optical band gap (Eopt) decreases with increasing contents of PbO at the cost of Li2O.