Role of surface science in the determination of glass structure

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to derive chemical state information from which the structure of oxide glasses can be determined. The familiar terms of network former, intermediate and modifier are discussed in relation to the binding energies of electrons on the oxygen species which are bonded to the cations concerned. In addition, the way in which the surface of the glass can reorganise when exposed to energetic photons or to reactive solutions has been investigated. The surface reorganisation is shown to reflect the change in mobility of modifier cations when glass composition is altered. These items are discussed in light of the difficulties in extracting quantitative information from photoelectron spectroscopy of insulating materials.