Bismuth titanate (Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 ) (BiT), glass is prepared by the melt-quench technique in the SiO 2 -K 2 O-Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 (SKBT) system doping with Eu 2 O 3 and transparent BiT glass-ceramics (GC) is derived from it by controlled heat-treatment at 500°C by varying duration. The structural properties of the heat-treated GC are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy [Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)], and fourier transform infrared reflectance spectroscopy. FE-SEM and TEM images show the formation of polycrystalline spherical particles of 100-200 nm with 10-15 nm crystallites after heat-treatment. A significant increase in e r value (from 20 to 35) was observed with increase in heat-treatment time. The transmission losses of GC which happened with heat-treatment time are due to Rayleigh scattering exhibited by nanocrystallites of BiT. The excitation spectra have been recorded by monitoring emission at 612 nm corresponding to the 5 D 0 ? 7 F 2 transition and an intense 467 nm excitation band corresponding to the 7 F 0 ? 5 D 2 has been observed. Emission spectra were recorded by exciting the glass samples at 467 nm. It is observed that with increase in heat-treatment time, the intensity of red emission at 612 nm increases by 8-fold, which has happened due to the occupancy of Eu 3+ ions in the low phonon energy crystal sites of BiT.
S. Trolier-McKinstry-contributing editorManuscript No. 30710.