Microstructure and Properties of Co2+: ZnAl2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposite Glasses Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 399 - 403
• Main Authors: Duan, Xiu-Lan, Yuan, Duo-Rong, Cheng, Xiu-Feng, Sun, Hai-Qing, Sun, Zhi-Hong, Wang, Xin-Qiang, Wang, Zeng-Mei, Xu, Dong, Lv, Meng-Kai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.02.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Chemical industry and chemicals; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Glass-based composites, vitroceramics; Glasses; Manufacture; Materials science; Other materials; Physics; Specific materials; Structure, analysis, properties; Aluminium oxide; Differential scanning calorimetry; Doping; Glass; Cobalt addition; Dispersion reinforced material; Experimental study; X ray diffraction; Silica; Composite material; Aluminium Zinc Oxides Mixed; Transmission electron microscopy; Sol gel process; Silicon oxides; Optical properties; Zinc oxide; Nanocomposite; Manufacturing; Infrared spectrum; Microstructure; Transparent material; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00053.x

Transparent bulk Co2+: ZnAl2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites containing nanocrystalline Co2+: ZnAl2O4 dispersed in silica glass matrix were obtained by the sol–gel method. The gels of composition 89SiO2–6Al2O3–5ZnO−xCoO (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) (mol%) were prepared at room temperature by using two different aluminum salts, aluminum nitrate and aluminum alkoxide (aluminum‐iso‐propoxide, Al(OPri)3), as starting materials. The transparent gels were converted to the crystalline phase of gahnite by heating above 900°C. The microstructural evolution of gels was characterized. The effect of Co2+ concentration on spectroscopic properties was also discussed. Co2+: ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals dispersed in the SiO2‐based glass are formed at lower heat‐treatment temperature and shorter heating time by using Al(OPri)3 as raw material.