LAUSR

Abstract Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3)-based glasses showing outstanding properties such as high linear refractive indices, low glass transition temperatures, and high third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities are promising materials for low temperature melting and photonic device applications. The present article reviews the current status of the electronic polarizability in Bi2O3-based glasses with glass-forming oxides and modifiers through the refractive index-based optical basicity Λ(no) and interionic interaction parameter A(no) in to understand deeply the uniqueness of Bi2O3-based glasses among other oxide glasses. The values of Λ(no), and A(no) in some Bi2O3-based glasses were estimated newly in this article. It was clarified that Bi2O3-based glasses exhibit an extremely strong basic nature with Λ(no)∼1.15 and extremely weak chemical bond strength with A(no)∼0.01 A−3 among oxide glasses, being more basic compared with TeO2-based glasses with Λ(no)∼1.0 and A(no)∼0.03 A−3. The outstanding properties of Bi2O3-based glasses were discussed from the viewpoints of electronic polarizability and weak chemical bond strength.