Europium structural environment in a sodium disilicate glass by XAS

The structural environment of europium (Eu) in a synthetic silicate glass of Na2Si2O5 composition has been determined with the final purpose to carry out a detailed investigation of the role of europium in glasses by building a structural model as a function of glass composition. The sample analyzed in this study has been characterized through Eu L3-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), which allowed to obtain Eu oxidation state, coordination number and the bEu–ON bond distances in the glass. From EXAFS data analysis Eu results to be bonded to six oxygens (bEu–ON=2.26±0.01 Å) at the corners of an almost regular octahedron