Atomic structure of rare earth Si-Al-O-N glasses

Abstract

In this paper the results of X-ray diffraction experiments of Ln-Si-Al-O-N (Ln = La, Gd, Yb) glasses are presented. Total structure factors and pair correlation functions allow the determination of the first coordination sphere of Ln atoms. The bond lengths observed correspond to the ionic radii of the Ln-ions surrounded by oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The presence of non-bridging nitrogen is discussed together with results of neutron diffraction, NMR-experiments and XPS-studies of other authors.