Total Conductivity of Calcium Iron Borate Glasses Using an Empirical Formula

Samples of calcium borate glasses containing iron ions have been prepared with three different concentrations of both boron and iron oxides. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy was performed and results revealed that samples are in good glassy state, with high homogeneity and short range ordered structure. Electrical conductivity was experimentally measured in the temperature range from 300 to 553 K. Conductivity results have been studied as a function of the static dielectric constant (ε) and the charge carrier’s relaxation time (τ). The results were modeled by means of an empirical formula that fits the experimental data as a function of both the static dielectric constant and the electric activation energy ΔΕ; in addition to the exponent factor s. Total measured conductivity modeled using the proposed empirical formula fits neatly the correlated barrier hopping model.