Fluoride bridging modes in fluorozirconate glasses by x-ray and computer simulation studies

A second characteristic ZrZr distance due to edge-sharing (ZrF_n) polyhedra which is observed in crystalline α-ZrF₄ (high temperature form) and is also suggested by recent X-ray studies of BaF₂ZrF₄ glasses, has been observed in ion dynamics computer simulation studies. Experimental X-ray and computer simulation results both imply that about one out of each four bridges between Zr pairs involve two fluoride ions, and that this proportion is almost independent of composition in the binary system.