Glass Matrix Research Articles

Preparation and properties of tellurite glass-based CsPb(BrCl)3@glass fluorescent film for a white light emitting diode color converter

Perovskite nanocrystal glass has the advantages of narrow-band emission, easy tuning, and stable structural, physical, and chemical properties, and can be used to mix with other colored materials for white light modulation. The current white light mode widely adopts the packaging method of blue light chip and yellow phosphor, which has the problem of a blue-yellow cavity and low light quality. In this work, the central wavelength of CsPb(BrCl)3 can be adjusted continuously ranging from 463 nm to 486 nm by adjusting the relative ratio of bromine to chlorine in nanocrystals. On the basis of the previous design of YAG:Ce phosphor-in-glass, perovskite nanocrystal glass powder as a color compensator was introduced into the tellurite glass matrix to form a doubly encapsulated system by low-temperature co-sintering. The yellow phosphor and perovskite nanocrystal glass maintain good structural integrity in the glass matrix. By combining the double-package fluorescent material with the blue chip, the continuous adjustment of chromaticity coordinates along the saddle line is realized, and the color-rendering index is also improved to 81.3.

Nanostructured Glass-Ceramic Materials from Glass Waste with Antimicrobial Activity.

Modern consumption patterns have led to a surge in waste glass accumulating in municipal landfills, contributing to environmental pollution, especially in countries that do not have well-established recycling standards. While glass itself is 100% recyclable, the logistics and handling involved present significant challenges. Flint and amber-colored glass, often found in high quantities in municipal waste, can serve as valuable sources of raw materials. We propose an affordable route that requires just a thermal treatment of glass waste to obtain glass-based antimicrobial materials. The thermal treatment induces crystallized nanoregions, which are the primary factor responsible for the bactericidal effect of waste glass. As a result, coarse particles of flint waste glass that undergo thermal treatment at 720 °C show superior antimicrobial activity than amber waste glass. Glass-ceramic materials from flint waste glass, obtained by thermal treatment at 720 °C during 2 h, show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli after just 30 min of contact time. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to monitor the elemental composition of the glass waste. The obtained glass-ceramic material was structurally characterized by transmission electron microscopy, enabling the confirmation of the presence of nanocrystals embedded within the glass matrix.

Research on material jetting fabrication and dielectric constant calculation of LTCC based on silica-borosilicate glass

Several material systems are available for low-temperature co-fired ceramics, and to achieve more efficient designs and applications using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques such as material jetting, the predictability of the dielectric constant of the sintered structure will significantly reduce the consumption of material development. In this work, the LTCC part was fabricated by 3D material jetting using silica-borosilicate glass LTCC ink and densified at 850°C. The borosilicate glass composition was derived from nanopowders prepared by radio frequency plasma spheronisation and configured as surface-grafted glass sols. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that silica particles were embedded in the glass matrix by a liquid phase sintering mechanism accompanied by several confined pores that were difficult to remove. A dielectric constant of around 3.78 was tested from room temperature to 100°C. Molecular dynamics sintering simulation was used to create sintered structures that matched the experimental values. The dipole moment fluctuation of the silica/glass bulk was counted to obtain an accurate value of the dielectric constant, and then the Bruggeman model based on the effective medium theory predicted the dielectric constant of the sintered body, with a prediction of 3.65, which is within 4 % difference from the measured value (3.78). The dielectric constant was predicted for different ceramic/glass compositions and sintering temperatures and found that 35 wt% and 60 wt% should be the upper and lower bounds for borosilicate glass additions to satisfy a stable structure with a relatively low dielectric constant range (3.38–4.42). In conclusion, an effective molecular dynamics approach to predict the dielectric constant of sintered bodies was developed to assist material design in LTCC AM fabrication.

Study on structural and optical properties of Tb3+ co-doped Au glasses for green optical application

This report investigates the structure and optical properties of Tb3+ co-doped Au glasses, with a focus on their applicability in green luminescent optical behavior. The study of Tb3+ co-doping in the presence of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) within glass matrices. The starting materials include SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, CaO, Sb2O3, Na2O, K2O, SnO2, SeO2, Tb2O3, and AuNPs. Glass fabrication employs the conventional melt quenching technique, followed by comprehensive characterization of physical, optical, luminescence, and structural properties. The density values reported for the glass, ranged from 2.8269 to 2.8359 g/cm3, molar volume was 26.3382 to 26.2591 cm3/mol, and refractive index was 1.5438–1.5526. The absorption spectra consist of three absorption bands that are located at 524, 1894, and 2178 nm and are assigned to 7F6 → 5D4, 7F6 → 7F0,1,2, and 7F6 → 7F3, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) and radioluminescence (RL) show similar trend and the optical properties are scrutinized using a spectrofluorometer. Size of the nanoparticle was evaluated and show around 8–16 nm and interplanar distance showing 2.1 Å. This study underscores the potential of Tb3+ and Au co-doped materials as promising for green optical applications.

Tb3+ doped silicoborate glass scintillator for high resolution synchrotron X-rays imaging application

This research aims to develop a combination of SiO2 and B2O3 glass former (called, silicoborate glass) to be used as a scintillation material for digital radiography application. The silicoborate glass doped with different concentration of Tb2O3, xTb2O3–7.5Gd2O3–40Na2O–5SiO2– (47.5-x)B2O3, where x = 0, 1, 2, and 3 mol% (xTb:7.5Gd) were prepared by melting and then rapid quenching in graphite mold. The density of the prepared glasses was high with Tb2O3 concentration, indicating that the glass became denser and could strongly interact with X-rays. The molar volume increased with Tb2O3 concentration, suggesting the increase of Non-Bridging Oxygen (NBOs) in glass matrix. The xTb:7.5Gd glasses absorbed photons in visible and near-infrared regions and was observed that the absorption bands increased with Tb2O3 concentration, which was the result of the 4f6-4f6 transitions behavior of Tb3+ ions. The photoluminescence and radioluminescence results revealed the distinct emission occurring at 544 nm (5D4→7F5). The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of glass had the maximum efficiency at 30.85%. The luminescence peak area under X-rays excitation glass was maximum at 109% of BGO crystal. CIE 1931 chromaticity of the xTb:7.5Gd glasses showed the color coordinates in yellowish-green area. The decay time of the xTb:7.5Gd glasses were in the millisecond range for different excitations. The probability of energy transfer was investigated between Gd3+ and Tb3+ ions in glass and may occur mainly between the 6P7/2 level of Gd3+ and 5H7 level of Tb3+. The X-rays imaging using the developed glass as a scintillator was performed by Synchrotron X-rays and the spatial resolution 6 lp/mm was achieved. These results demonstrate that the 3 mol% of Tb2O3 doped silicoborate glass can be used as a scintillator and can be applied for a high-resolution Synchrotron X-rays imaging system.

Enhancing electrical properties through in-situ controlled nanocrystallization of V2O5–TeO2 glass

V2O5–TeO2 glass–ceramics (VTGC) were prepared by controlled annealing of the V2O5–TeO2 glass (VTG), which illustrates a parent glass matrix with a single charge carrier. The annealing proceeded at six temperatures selected between the glass transition and the maximum of the first crystallization process to obtain various nanocrystallite sizes. Heat treatment caused an increase in DC conductivity by 2.5–3.5 (250–285 °C) order of magnitude. Using thermal analysis, the crystal growth process was determined to be 1D. Structural studies show that the obtained materials are partially amorphous and polycrystalline with nanometer-sized crystallites. Subtle thread-like structures were observed using conductive AFM. The activation energy of the conduction process decreased from 0.38 eV in VTG to 0.18–0.11 eV (250–285 °C) in VTGC. The radii of crystallites were calculated based on the theoretical model of electron hopping between connected semiconducting nanocrystallites and vary between 1.7 and 2.8 nm (250–285 °C). Thermoelectric studies indicate constant carrier concentration. Features characteristic of small polaron hopping-governed materials were observed. We suggest V3O7 nanocrystals as conductive media in VTGC.Graphical abstract

Investigation of scale formation and degeneration of silicide coating on Nb–Si based alloy in the temperature range from 1250 °C to 1560 °C

Nb silicide coatings modified with active elements have good oxidation resistance, but there is a lack of systematic research on their oxidation behavior at high temperatures above 1250 °C. The aim of this work is to investigate the oxidation behavior of an Al–Y modified silicide coating on Nb–Si based alloy in the temperature range from 1250 °C to 1560 °C. After oxidation at 1250 °C, the scale displays a typical layered structure consisting mainly of a TiO2 outer layer, an amorphous SiO2 matrix layer embedded with TiO2 and ZrSiO4, and an inner layer consisting of SiO2 and Cr2O3. Above 1350 °C, the evaporation reaction of Cr2O3 into CrO3 (g) is significantly accelerated and Cr2O3 disappeared gradually with temperature or time. The TiO2 layers covering on the scales formed at 1250–1500 °C grow along the crystallographic orientation of [100]. The micropores formed on the surface of TiO2 should be attributed to the further oxidation of Cr2O3 into volatile oxide CrO3 (g). The scales exhibit a similar structure consisting mainly of a SiO2 glass matrix embedded with ZrSiO4 and a surface TiO2 layer until 1500 °C. Above the eutectic temperature of SiO2–TiO2 system, the scale is mainly composed of a matrix layer of SiO2–TiO2 eutectic embedded with block TiO2 particles, and a thin SiO2 interface layer at 1560 °C. The degeneration path of the (Nb,X)Si2 coating is (Nb,X)Si2 → (Ti,Nb)5Si4 → γ-(Nb,X)5Si3.

The effect of trace Fe3+ on the magneto-optical properties of Tb3+ doped B2O3-GeO2-Al2O3-ZnO-BaO glass

Magnetic particles of BaFe12O19 were synthesized using a high-temperature solid-phase method. Magneto-optical glass samples were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of Fe3+ ions (ranging from 0 to 0.25 mol%) into the glass matrix with a constant doping of Tb2O3 (30 mol%) using a high-temperature melting method. The glasses are composed of B2O3-GeO2-Al2O3-ZnO-BaO-Tb2O3 (BGAZBa-T30-xFe). The effects of varying Fe3+ ion concentrations on the structure, physical properties, and magneto-optical performance of BGAZBa-T30 glass were investigated. The study reveals that the density and magneto-optical properties of the glass are enhanced with the increase of Fe3+ ion concentration. When the Fe3+ ion concentration reaches 0.20 mol%, the Verdet constant of BGAZBa-T30 glass increases from −82.51 rad/(T·m) to −91.90 rad/(T·m) at an incident light wavelength of 633 nm. Meanwhile, the density rises from 4.93 g/cm3 to 4.98 g/cm3. Notably, the BGAZBa-T30-0.20Fe glass sample exhibits excellent magneto-optical performance, with a Verdet constant value of −142.50 rad/(T⋅m) at an incident light wavelength of 515 nm, which is 1.2 times that of the glass matrix main body (−118.28 rad/(T·m)). This presents potential research value in the field of optoelectronic functionality.

Spectroscopic and Thermographic Qualities of Praseodymium-Doped Oxyfluorotellurite Glasses.

The thermal stability of oxyfluorotellurite glass systems, (65-x)TeO2-20ZnF2-12PbO-3Nb2O5-xPr2O3, doped with praseodymium was examined. The different concentrations of praseodymium oxide (x = 0.5 and 2 mol%) were applied to verify the thermal, optical and luminescence properties of the materials under study. The relatively high values of the Dietzel (ΔT) and Saad-Poulain (S or H') thermal stability factors determined using a differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicate the good thermal stability of the glass matrix, which gradually improves with the content of the active dopant. The temperature dependence of optical spectra in the temperature range 300-675 K for the VIS-NIR region was investigated. The involved Pr3+ optical transition intensities and relaxation dynamic of the praseodymium luminescent level were determined. The ultrashort femtosecond pulses were utilized to examine a dynamic relaxation of the praseodymium luminescent levels. Although the measured emission of the Pr3+ active ions in the studied glass encompasses the quite broad spectral region, the observed luminescence may only be attributed to 3PJ excited states. As a result, the observed decrease in the experimental lifetime for the 3P0 level along with the increasing activator content was identified as an intensification of the Pr-Pr interplay and the associated self-quenching process. The maximum relative sensitivities (Sr) estimated over a relatively wide temperature range are ~0.46% K-1 (at 300 K) for FIR (I530/I497) and 0.20% K-1 (at 600 K) for FIR (I630/I497), which seems to confirm the possibility of using investigated glasses in optical temperature sensors.

Crystallization processes of rare-earth doped GdF3 nanocrystals in silicate glass matrix: Dimorphism and photoluminescence properties

Rare-earth doped GdF3 nanocrystals embedded in silica glassy matrix have been prepared by controlled crystallization of the xerogel; the influence of rare-earth ion (Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Yb) and additional Li-codopant on structural and optical properties was discussed. The precipitation of RE-doped GdF3 nanocrystalline phase is the result of Gd-trifluoracetate thermolysis revealed as a strong exothermic peak at around 300 °C. Structural analysis of RE-doped SiO2-GdF3 glass-ceramic sample calcined at 525 °C showed the occurrence of GdF3 nanocrystals of about 25 nm size, showing hexagonal or orthorombic structure depending on the RE-ion. Under UV-light excitation at 273 nm of Gd3+ ions (8S7/2 → 6I13/2,15/2 transition), photoluminescence spectra showed characteristic RE3+ luminescence due to the non-radiative energy transfer between the excited Gd3+ and acceptor RE ions; the highest energy transfer (≅ 80 %) was observed for Tb3+ and lowest (≅ 21 %) for Sm3+.

Photoluminescence Quenching Upon Growth of Metal Nanoparticles: Quantum-Mechanical Views.

In dictating the optical processes in metal nanoparticles, for instance, quantum nature of free electrons is significantly dominant and plays very crucial roles at the level of nanoscale dimensions of materials. As consequences of the quantum-confinement effects on the conduction electrons, surface-plasmon resonance induced optical absorption and light emission properties of metal nanoparticles are found to be strongly dependent on physical dimensions of the nanomaterials. In addition, surface-confined acoustic vibration (phonon) modes have been experimentally observed to depend on the sizes of the metal nanoparticles. Also, interestingly, tuning of the surface-plasmon resonance condition is found to enhance the intensity of the acoustic Raman modes in metal nanoparticles. The study highlights the role of plasmon-phonon coupling in Co metal nanoparticles embedded in a silica-glass. In the research field of nanosciences and nanotechnologies, extraordinary behaviour and properties of nanoscale matters are investigated. In this context, interesting studies have been discussed in this review article to elaborate optical, chemical and photoluminescence properties of nanoscale Ag metal particles. Subtle detection of optical phenomena associated with the excited many-body electronic processes in the metal nanoparticles, for example, are very interesting but definitely challenging. Here we make an attempt to find out how the thermal growth of Ag metal nanoparticles in a glass matrix snuffs out the light emission from the samples? Quantum mechanical interpretations of the underlying processes about the quenching of photoluminescence phenomena with the growth of the metal nanoparticles will help to fine tune the optical properties of plasmonic systems as well as to harness potential applications of the nanomaterials.

Optical characterization and thermal analysis of rare earth-doped PbO-GeO2-Ga2O3 glasses embedded with gold nanoparticles

This study investigated the optical properties of PbO-GeO2-Ga2O3 glasses doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ rare earth ions, deposited with gold nanoparticles and annealed at different times (1 h, 12 h, 28 h, and 52 h). By varying the annealing times, we can understand how these thermal processes influence the position of the energy bands, which in turn affects the material’s optical properties such as the energy gap and Urbach energy. The study found that the sample annealed for 52 h had the lowest Eg value and the highest Eu value, indicating significant structural changes due to prolonged thermal treatment. The study aimed to determine the energy gap (Eg) and Urbach energy (EU), Judd-Ofelt parameters (Ω2, Ω4, Ω6), oscillator strength (fexp and fcal), and root mean square (RMS) deviation. Additionally, the study reports on the linear absorption and heat transfer results, which were used to evaluate temperature changes during Z-scan experiments. The data obtained indicate that the sample subjected to 52-hour annealing has the smallest Eg value, suggesting that intense thermal processes and crystallisation affect the positions of the material’s energy bands, increasing its ability to absorb light. Consequently, the EU value for this sample is the highest at 0.312 eV, decreasing to 0.203 eV for the sample annealed for 1 h. This indicates that longer annealing times result in more significant structural changes in the glass matrix, thereby modifying its optical properties. The analysis of the obtained results, leads to the conclusion that the lowest values of both experimental (fexp) and calculated (fcal) oscillator strength occur at 546 nm and 811 nm, indicating the potential energy properties of the 4S3∕2 and 4I9∕2 levels in the atomic structure. It was observed that the J-O parameters did not exhibit significant changes with increased annealing time, suggesting that short-term thermal processes may be sufficient to achieve a stable energy configuration. This finding is of significant practical importance, as it indicates that the material can maintain its optical properties even with shorter annealing times, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the production process.

In-situ glass transition of ZIF-62 based mixed matrix membranes for enhancing H2 fast separation

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), combining the advantages of polymer membranes and porous materials, processing the potential to realize large-scale gas separation applications. However, the interfacial defects in MMMs greatly hindered gas separation performance improvement. Therefore, designing an MMM with high loading and good interfacial compatibility remains a critical issue in promoting the application of MMMs. Herein, during in-situ heating process, the melting of liquid ZIF-62 in PBI polymer can largely fill the interfacial defects in MMMs. The microporous transport channels of ZIF-62 glass in MMMs promoted the H2 diffusion and inhibited the CO2 and CH4 diffusion, thus enhancing the H2/CO2 and H2/CH4 separation of MMMs. For mixed gas testing, the 45 wt% ZIF-62 glass/PBI membrane had the maximum H2 permeability of 459 barrer, and its H2/CO2 and H2/CH4 selectivities were 23 and 57, higher than the gas separation upper bonds. In addition, ZIF-62 glass/PBI membrane exhibited stable separation performance under 1–5 bar pressure. Therefore, the rational combination of MOF glass and polymer matrix could provide promising potential for reducing the interfacial defects of high-loading MMMs, thus enhancing the gas separation performance.

Investigations on physical, structural, elastic, optical and radiation shielding properties of boro-phosphate glasses for radioactive waste management applications

The effectiveness of nuclear shielding has been investigated on Eu3 doped boro-phosphate glass matrix by altering the extent of modifier addition (CdF and ZnF), for a specific assortment of multicomponent glasses with the following composition; 35B2O3+20P2O5+ 15BaO+9LiO+(20−x)ZnF + xCdF+1Eu2O3 (where x = 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 in mol%). Various structural deformations are observed in the present batch of glasses, and the sample's irregularity has been verified by examining FTIR and XRD techniques. The structural and elastic features have been estimated from the physical parameters like density and the index of refraction. The influence of the modifiers reveals the existing glass structure's structural integrity, which in turn explains the fact that the samples are a suitable choice for an upgraded shielding procedure. The BPBZC20 glass revealed to be hard and firmly packed by the computed elastic moduli, which is necessary for a superior shielding channel. To ascertain the radiation protection capabilities, the key parameters including the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), equivalent atomic number, half-value layer (HVL), effective electron density, mean free path (MFP), and buildup factors of the titled glasses are determined. These assessments were conducted using the user-friendly Phy-X software and the robustness of the MAC is validated with FLUKA Monte Carlo stimulation.

Synthesis of highly dispersed metallic bismuth nanoparticles in CuO–Bi2O3–SiO2 glass-ceramics for sodium ion battery anode

The formation of bismuth and copper nanoparticles from CuO–Bi2O3–SiO2 glass by heat treatment in the presence of hydrogen and their functionality as anode active material in sodium ion batteries was examined. Oxides consisting of xCuO-(85-x)Bi2O3–15SiO2 (mol%) vitrify in the composition range of x from 5 to 30. In compositions with large amounts of copper oxide (x > 35), Cu2O crystallizes, suggesting the presence of Cu+ and Cu2+ with different valence states in the glass. Heat treatment in a mixed atmosphere of hydrogen and nitrogen resulted in the crystallization of bismuth oxide and their reduction to form glass ceramics with dispersed bismuth and copper particles. As bismuth and copper are consumed from the glass matrix by phase separation, a cross-linked structure of silica develops in residual glass matrix. The resulting bismuth particles was small in size than borate-based glass ceramics, indicating that the cross-linked silicates have an inhibiting effect on bismuth grain growth. Charge-discharge tests in a sodium ion battery showed a reversible charge-discharge profile without the initial irreversible reaction of bismuthate reduction.

Ytterbium-Doped Double-Clad Fiber with High Uniformity of Concentration Distribution and Suppressed Photodarkening

Photodarkening (PD) effect in ytterbium-doped fiber (YDF) has a significant impact on the high-power operational stability of fiber lasers, which seriously hinders the power scaling. In this paper, the relationship between ytterbium ions uniformity and the photodarkening effect in the YDF was investigated, and the fabrication process allowing improving the ytterbium ions uniformity in the core of preforms for suppressing the photodarkening effect was developed. The Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) method combined with Chelate Vapor Deposition (CVD) technology was adopted for multi-layer fiber core deposition, and an all-gas-phase technical process was proposed to improve the ytterbium ions uniformity in the Al/P co-doped glass matrix. The 25/400 μm YDFs obtained by this technology achieved stable 3.5 kW laser output power for 8 h with suppressed PD and nonlinear effects.

Impact of La2O3 incorporation on the structural, physical, mechanical properties and radiation shielding performance of basalt glasses

This study investigates the influence of La2O3 addition on the structural, physical, and radiation shielding properties of basalt-based glasses. Incorporating varying concentrations of La2O3 (0, 10, 20, 30 wt%) into basalt glasses, we aimed to evaluate the potential of La2O3 in enhancing the material's effectiveness against gamma radiation. Utilizing Ba-133 point radioactive source and Ultra Ge detector, we measured the attenuation parameters in different photon energies (81, 160, 223, 276, 302, 356, and 383 keV). The glasses exhibited an amorphous structure, as confirmed by XRD analysis, with density values ranging from 2.72 to 3.305 g/cm³, increasing with La2O3 content. The microstructural analysis indicated that La3+ ions predominantly integrate into the glass matrix, enhancing the structural integrity without forming separate phase regions. Our findings demonstrate a significant improvement in radiation protection parameters, including mass attenuation coefficients and half-value layers, with higher La2O3 concentrations. These outcomes were also supported by the data obtained for Zeff and EBF values of G1-G4 glasses. The mechanical properties of the glasses were also investigated with the Makishima-Mackenzie model and it was observed that the elastic moduli were also affected by the addition of La2O3. The enhancements observed with La2O3 additions suggest promising avenues for developing advanced shielding materials, combining the inherent advantages of basalt glasses with the high atomic weight and electron density of lanthanum compounds.

Unlocking the potential of multicomponent mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles: An approach to enhanced ion therapy

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of a multicomponent mesoporous bioactive glass (MMBG) derived from the composition of 58S glass modified with copper, zinc, and boron. Morphological data revealed the presence of spherical particles with an average size of 616 nm and a specific surface area of 295 m2·g−1. X-ray diffractogram analysis confirmed the lack of long-range order in the MMBG, indicating the presence of a disordered vitreous structure characteristic of glass. The structural scenario of the bioactive glass MMBG reveals a characteristic configuration of borosilicate glasses, where the [BO4] polyhedra, along with SiO4 tetrahedra, constitute the backbone of the glassy matrix. Concerning zinc and copper ions, they function similarly to calcium in compensating for the remaining negative charges within the borosilicate network, behaving as typical network-modifying ions. The presence of these heavy ions, coupled with the formation of the borosilicate network in MMBG, led to a 20 % increase in density compared to 58S glass. Additionally, alterations in the chemical composition and structure of MMBG resulted in a reduction in molar volume compared to 58S, indicating a decrease in the volume occupied by one mole of oxygen in the glass matrix, thereby increasing the oxygen packing density. The pH studies reveal that changes in the chemical composition of MMBG did not compromise its chemical reactivity in aqueous environments. The capability of MMBG glass to act as a bioactive agent for ion therapy is evidenced by its ability to deliver Zn and Cu ions, as substantiated by the gradual disappearance of absorption in wavenumber range of 690–470 cm−1, attributed to the vibration of Zn-O and Cu-O bonds. Preliminary in vitro assay for bioactivity in SBF revealed that the formation of apatite layer on the surface of MMBG glass was notably thicker and denser compared to 58S glass. This result highlights the superior bioactive response of the MMBG bioactive glass, indicating its potential as an exceptionally favorable material for various biomedical applications.

Different phase transformation behaviors of B2-CuZr crystalline phase and their associated mechanical properties by molecular dynamics using different potentials

Metastable CuZr-based alloys have attracted much attention due to their high glass-forming ability and shape memory effect. Many experiments have underscored the pivotal role of the B2-CuZr phase as an effective inclusion to improve both the strength and ductility of metallic glass matrix composites. The improved ductility can be attributed to the dilatation induced by martensitic transformation, while the strengthening effect is owed to the higher strength and hardness of the martensite phase compared to the austenite phase. Well-designed atomistic simulations can predict the mechanical behavior of materials before experiments and offer sufficient information on the atomic scale. The selection of an appropriate interatomic potential is a primary concern in any atomistic simulation and needs to be carefully considered to ensure reliable results. The uniaxial tensile behavior of B2-CuZr crystalline phase is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations using five typical potentials, namely the potentials developed by Mendelev-2007, Mendelev-2009, Mendelev-2016, Mendelev-2019 and Cheng-2009. The phase transformation behavior during tension, Young’s modulus, and yield strength of the simulated samples exhibit variations when different potentials are employed. Notably, only by employing Mendelev-2019 and Cheng-2009 potentials, the strength and Young’s modulus of the transformed phase are higher than the untransformed austenite phase, corresponding well with experimental results. This work emphasizes the impact of different interatomic potentials on phase transformation behaviors within a specific simulation context.

High-efficiency luminescent Eu3+ heavily doped glass prepared from black talc: A promising material for significant applications in W-LED illumination

As a distinguished luminescent matrix, rare earth (RE)-doped glass has garnered considerable attention across lighting, display, laser, and related domains. Nonetheless, the limited luminescent efficiency of such glass imposes constraints on its extensive utilization. In addressing this challenge, we have developed a novel formulation involving heavily Eu3+-doped black talc glass, boasting exceptional optical characteristics. Structural examination has validated the successful synthesis of the parent glass matrix comprising [SiO4] and [AlO4] units. With the escalating of Eu3+ doping concentrations, the glass manifested an upward trend in both density and refractive index. Under the excitation of 393 nm light, the glass exhibited strong red light emission, demonstrating a high internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of up to 84.67 %, surpassing markedly other Eu3+-doped glass variants. Furthermore, even under elevated temperatures reaching 150 °C, the glass retained 86.2 % of its luminescent intensity at room temperature, indicative of superior thermal resilience vis-à-vis alternative glass systems. As a proof-of-concept, we encapsulated a white light-emitting diode (W-LED) assembly employing a 395 nm LED chip, Eu3+-doped glass, BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphor, and Ba2SiO4:Eu2+ green phosphor. The resultant device exhibited favorable chromaticity coordinates (0.3566, 0.3994), boasting a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4791K and a high color rendering index (CRI) of 91. In summary, this investigation employs black talc ore to synthesize luminescent glass, thereby not only diversifying the application scope of black talc but also augmenting its additional value, while notably enhancing the luminescent efficiency of the glass through heavy Eu3+ doping. Through empirical validation, the significant potential benefits of Eu3+-doped black talc glass in the realm of W-LED lighting were convincingly demonstrated.