Nucleation and crystallization behaviors of nano-crystalline lithium-mica glass-ceramic prepared via sol-gel method

► Crystallization temperature shifts to 625 from 680 °C following nucleation process. ► Activation energy of crystallization for the nucleated specimen is 229.6 kJ mol−1. ► Crystallization activation energy for the un-nucleated specimen is 400.2 kJ mol−1. ► Needle-like growth is predominant growth mechanism for un-nucleated sample. ► Three-dimensional growth is predominant growth mechanism for nucleated sample.