Determination of distributions of the quadrupole interaction in amorphous solids by 27Al satellite transition...

27Al Satellite transition spectroscopy (SATRAS) has been used to extract both the quadrupole interaction and its distribution width from MAS spectra of glasses. Using this method a measurement at a single magnetic field strength allows one to obtain the true chemical shifts and the quadrupole interaction (and its distributions) with high accuracy, including quantification of the results. In contrast to earlier investigations the central transition MAS lineshapes can be described without assumptions and give correct relative proportions of differently coordinated Al species in glasses. The distribution model for the quadrupole interaction and the resulting MAS lineshapes are discussed in detail including a description of the experimental requirements. Experimental results of 27Al SATRAS spectra of a ternary Al2O3-B2O3-P2O5 glass exhibiting 4-, 5-, and 6-coordinated aluminum species clearly prove different mean values and distribution widths for the quadrupole interaction in the various AlOx polyhedra.