Investigation of the stability of glass-ceramic composites containing CeTi2O6 and CaZrTi2O7 after ion implantation

Abstract

Glass-ceramic composite materials are being investigated for numerous applications (i.e. textile, energy storage, nuclear waste immobilization applications, etc.) due to the chemical durability and flexibility of these materials. Borosilicate and Fe-Al-borosilicate glass-ceramic composites containing brannerite (CeTi2O6) or zirconolite (CaZrTi2O7) crystallites were synthesized at different annealing temperatures. The objective of this study was to understand the interaction of brannerite or zirconolite-type crystallites within the glass matrix and to investigate how the local structure of these composite materials changed with changing synthesis conditions. Powder Xray diffraction (XRD) and Backscattered electron (BSE) microprobe images have been used to study how the ceramic crystallites dispersed in the glass matrix. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) spectra were also collected from all glass-ceramic composite materials. Examination of Ti K-, Ce L3-, Zr K-, Si L2,3-, Fe K-, and Al L2,3-edge XANES spectra from the glass-ceramic composites have shown that the annealing temperature, glass composition, and the loading of the ceramic crystallites in the glass matrix can affect the local environment of the glass-ceramic composite materials. A comparison of the glass-ceramic composites containing brannerite or zirconolite crystallites has shown that similar changes in the long-range and local structure of these composite materials occur when the synthesis conditions to form these materials or the composition are changed.

Radiation damage effects in amorphous zirconolite

“…Analysis of synthetic amorphized zirconolite produced from ion beam experiments 22 also shows an increase in the percentage of [5] Ti. A similar result is reported in glass ceramic composites incorporating zirconolite where a decrease in Ti coordination number is observed as a result of structural damage 23 .…”

A one-step synthesis of rare-earth phosphate–borosilicate glass composites

“…These changes have been attributed to changes in the ordering of the glass. 63 The Si L 2,3 -edge XANES spectra presented in Fig. 9b overlap each other showing no significant changes in the local chemical environment of Si regardless of annealing time.…”

The Effect of A-Site Cation on the Formation of Brannerite (ATi2O6, A = U, Th, Ce) Ceramic Phases in a Glass-Ceramic Composite System

“…[15][16][17] CeTi2O6 glass-ceramics have also been investigated, however they were formed by simple co-sintering of pre-synthesised glass and ceramic phases. 18,19 The synthesis of stoichiometric brannerite glass-ceramics has not been reported; this study examines the formation of the three stoichiometric titanate brannerites in Na2AlBSi6O16 glass. In addition, glass-ceramics targeting the mixed cation phases U0.5Th0.5Ti2O6, Th0.5Ce0.5Ti2O6, and Ce0.5U0.5Ti2O6 were synthesised, to try and further elucidate the different behaviours of the cations studied within the brannerite structure.…”