Mixed
network former glasses in the system (Na2O)1/3[(2TeO2)
x
(P2O5)1–x
]2/3 have
been prepared and characterized by DSC, density, and electrical
conductivity measurements. Within the compositional region 0 < x < 0.5, the electrical conductivity shows a positive
mixed network former effect, i.e., enhanced glass transition temperatures
and ionic conductivities in relation to the linearly interpolated
values between the corresponding binary sodium tellurite and sodium
phosphate systems. The structural origins of this effect have been
studied by 31P, 23Na, and 125Te high-resolution
and dipolar solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques,
O-1s, Na-1s, Te-3d5/2, and P-2p X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. A quantitative structural model has
been developed that is consistent with all of the experimental data
and provides a detailed description of network modification processes,
interactions, and connectivities. For x values <0.5,
the data evidence a preferential formation of Te–O–P
linkages, whereas at higher x values, the connectivity
distribution appears to be more random. 23Na NMR data suggest
a dominant association of the network modifier species with the phosphate
species for x ≤ 0.5, whereas for larger x values the participation of nonbridging oxygen atoms associated
with tellurium becomes increasingly evident in 23Na{31P} rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) results. The
enhanced T
g values and electrical conductivities
can be directly correlated with the preferential formation of Te3
4–O–P(3) and Te1
3–O–P(3) linkages, which both
strengthen the network and create shallower Coulomb potentials via
anionic charge delocalization.