Structural analysis of 65ZnO30P2O55Nb2O5 invert glass using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract

The 65ZnO30P2O55Nb2O5 (ZnPNbO) glass is one of the promising candidate antibacterial biomaterials; it is a safe material since the release of Zn2+ ions from the glass is well-controlled. To discuss the origin of this controlled release from the view point of its glass structure, the amount and state of bridging oxygen in the glass was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and compared with those in 65CaO30P2O55Nb2O5 (CaPNbO) glass. The number of POP bonds in ZnPNbO glass was larger and that of PONb bonds was smaller than those in CaPNbO glass. This was linked with the formation of a large number of POZn bonds. The outermost shell electron density of the cations in ZnPNbO glass decreased, and as a result, the binding energy of each element increased. These might be closely related to the controlled release of Zn2+ ions.