Some features of the surface modification of MgO–Al2O3–TiO2–SiO2 glass and glass ceramics by Ag diffusion

Abstract

Diffusion of Ag species into the surface layers of the MgO–Al 2 O 3 –TiO 2 –SiO 2 glass stimulates the crystallization processes therein during subsequent thermal treatment. It was found that the silver doping significantly increases the microhardness of glass and glass ceramics. The effect of the Ag diffusion and the subsequent high-temperature treatment (T > T g ) on the structure and luminescence properties of the MgO–Al 2 O 3 –TiO 2 –SiO 2 glass was studied. The thermal evolution, structure and properties of the glass and glass ceramics were investigated by the DSC method, XRD analysis and luminescence spectroscopy. It was found that the Ag diffusion into the surface layers leads to the formation of numerous different luminescent molecular Ag n clusters. The MgO–Al 2 O 3 –TiO 2 –SiO 2 glass and glass ceramics subjected to the Ag diffusion can operate as effective down-converters of the radiation demonstrating the effective transformation of UV and blue light into the radiation of red and NIR spectral range.