Superionic glasses xCuI–(l – x)[Cu2MoO4–CuPO3] were prepared and studied by infrared reflectance spectroscopy
to investigate the structure of the oxyanion matrix and the type of
sites occupied by copper ions. The study was complemented by the consideration
of glasses 0.67CuI–0.33[Cu2MoO4–Cu3PO4] and xCuI–(l – x)[Cu2O-nP2O5] with n = 0.33, 0.50, 1.0. The oxyanion
structure of glasses xCuI–(l – x)[Cu2MoO4–CuPO3] was found to involve
discrete PO4
3‑, P2O7
4‑ and MoO4
2‑ units,
where P and Mo are 4-fold coordinated to oxygen, and molybdate octahedral
species which have the MoO3 stoichiometry and are linked
by Mo–O–Mo bridging bonds. Despite the nominal metaphosphate
composition (CuPO3) of these glasses the spectra gave no
signature for metaphosphate structures based on the PO3
– unit. Also, increasing amounts of CuI were found
to favor the creation of PO4
3‑ and MoO3 species at the expense of P2O7
4‑ and MoO4
2‑. These findings
were explained by the acidity order P2O5 >
MoO3 and the need to accommodate the bulky CuI in the glassy
matrix,
a process facilitated by condensed MoO3 octahedral species.
Cu ions were found to be present as monovalent cations and to occupy
oxide and iodide sites. The latter sites organize into CuI-like pseudophases
at high CuI contents, in agreement with the conduction pathway model
for superionic glasses.