Glass with Nanoparticles

A borate glass containing varying amounts of cerium (IV) oxide was successfully prepared with both trivalent Ce3+ (Ce2O3) and tetravalent Ce4+ (CeO2) states nanoparticles in 2-5nm in size. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy measurement was used to investigate coexistence of the multivalence in the borate glass. Significant changes in the Ce+3 and Ce4+ were observed when the glass was melted  with different melting parameters as well as different raw materials. Glass made with borax that consist of 0.05mols of CeO2 melted at 1100˚C for 3hrs yield the highest Ce3+.  TEM micrographs confirm the coexistence of Ce2O3 and tetravalent CeO2 nano particles in the glassy matrix. FTIR measurements suggest that the CeO2 in the glass acts as both a glass-former and a glass modifier.

XANES data obtained from NSLS II at Broookhaven Nationa Lab. 

TEM Images of nanoparticles within the glass

  For more information read "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2019.04.001"