Structure of Glasses of the TeO2 – MoO3 System

Structural models for glasses of the TeO2–MoO3 system are suggested. On the basis of X‐ray and infrared spectral investigations, by comparing with known crystalline structures of TeO2, MoO3 and Te2MoO7(T2M), it is shown that the glasses from TeO2 to Te2MoO7 possess [TeO4] and [MoO5] groups as basic structural units. The latter are connected to form [Mo2O8] complexes. The glasses in the MoO3‐rich compositional range are built up of [TeO3] and [MoO6] polyhedra. The glass‐formation tendency is discussed in relation to the role of the free electron pair and the disruption of secondary and weak primary bonds in the crystals.