Eu3+ doped ferroelectric CaBi2Ta2O9 based glass-ceramic nanocomposites: Crystallization kinetics, optical and dielectric properties

We report Eu3+ doped transparent glass-ceramics (GCs) containing bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric (BLSF) CaBi2Ta2O9 (CBT) as the major crystal phase. The CBT crystal phase was generated in a silica rich glass matrix of SiO2-K2O-CaO-Bi2O3-Ta2O5 glass system synthesized by melt quenching technique followed by controlled crystallization through ceramming heat-treatment. Non-isothermal DSC study was conducted to analyze crystallization kinetics of the glass in order to understand the crystallization mechanism. The optimum heat-treatment protocol for ceramization of precursor glass that has been determined through crystallization kinetics analysis was employed to fabricate transparent GCs containing CBT nanocrystals, which was otherwise difficult. Structural analysis of the GCs was carried out using XRD, TEM, FESEM and Raman spectroscopy and results confirmed the existence of CBT nanocrystals. The transmittance and optical band gap energies of the GCs were found to be less when compared to the precursor glass. The refractive indices of the GCs were increased monotonically with increase in heat-treatment time, signaling densification of samples upon heat-treatment. The dielectric constants (εr) of the GCs were progressively increased with increase in heat-treatment duration indicating evolution of ferroelectric CBT crystals phase upon heat-treatment.