Nanocrystalline glass ceramics: Structural, physical and optical properties

•Effect of transition ions on nanocrystalline phase formation in glass ceramics.•Correlation of structure and properties of glass ceramics.•Higher content of ZnO increases the optical band gap.

Four different transition metals contained nanocrystalline glass ceramics are synthesized by melting and quenching technique. The transition metal oxides play as former, modifier or both the roles depending on their oxidation states, field strength and covalent characteristics. The optical band gaps are observed in the range of 3.2–5.5 eV. The presence of nano-crystalline phases dominates the optical band gap. The softening temperature (Ts) is mainly affected by the residual glass in glass ceramics. These glass ceramics can be used as shielding materials for nuclear waste.