Incorporation of niobium into photonic glasses: new structure/function relations uncovered by advanced magnetic resonance techniques

• Grant number: 22/01937-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Hellmut Eckert
• Grantee: Laureano Javier Ensuncho Hernández
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy offer an element-selective, inherently quantitative and experimentally very flexible approach for the structural elucidation of glassy and glass-ceramic materials. NMR can give clear-cut and quantitative answers about the extent of network polymerization, the spatial distribution of the network former and network modifier species, and the structural roles of network formers, network modifiers, and intermediate oxides introduced into these networks. These results facilitate our understanding of the influence of glass compositions upon the photonic properties of these glasses. The present doctoral project is concerned about the structural role of transition metal oxides in glasses, in particular Nb2O5, which plays a unique role in controlling non-linear optical properties of glasses. A specific mission of this project is to emphasize and develop the potential of non-routine, more advanced NMR experiments, to obtain new structural insights towards the development of new structure-function correlations. (AU)