Dual Effect of B3+ and Pb2+ Ions on the Elasticity and Semiconducting Nature of Sodium Zinc Borate Glass

The influence of B³⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions on the electrical and mechanical properties of a borate network was extensively studied. A 30B₂O₃–10ZnO–60Na₂O core network was prepared using the commercial melt/quenching technique and inlaid by different concentrations of B₂O₃ + Pb₃O₄ at the expense of Na₂O. The impact of Pb²⁺ and B³⁺ ions on the mechanical properties were studied through ultrasonic wave velocities, elastic moduli, and microhardness. The more bridging oxygens BO₄ that brought to the considered borate network due to the more addition of B₂O₃ and conversion of BO₃ to BO₄ via Pb²⁺ ions penetration, formation of PbO₆, and formation of the strong bonds B–O–Pb reinforced elastic moduli and microhardness of the studied borate network. Electrical properties through dielectric constant, electric modulus, impedance, and ac conductivity were extensively studied. The dielectric constant and electric modulus showed a behavior up to 20 mol % of Pb²⁺ and 35 mol % of B³⁺ differs from after that concentration, while ac conductivity differs at 40 mol % of Pb²⁺ and 50 mol % of B³⁺ from before that concentration. The results of the dependence of conductivity on frequency and temperature showed that the considered glass have a semiconducting nature.