The effect of TiO2 on the structure and devitrification behavior of potassium titanium germanate glass

The effect of replacing 20 mol% of GeO₂ by TiO₂ on the properties of potassium germanate glass was investigated. The structure and devitrification behaviour of glasses were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed that potassium titanium germanate has a higher glass transition temperature and a higher thermal stability vs. crystallization. The presence of two exothermic peaks on the DTA curve of potassium germanate glass indicates the complex crystallization process. The XRD pattern of this glass heated at the temperature of the first crystallization peak indicated that the GeO₂ and K₂Ge₇O₁₅ were formed. Only the K₂TiGe₃O₉ phase was identified, in a case when potassium titanium germanate glass was heated at the temperature of the crystallization peak.     

The non-isothermal devitrification of lithium germanate glasses

The non-isothermal devitrification of lithium germanate glasses, examined by DTA and XRD, is reported and discussed. The glass compositions are expressed by the general formula:xLi₂O(1?x)GeO₂ withx=0.050, 0.125, 0.167, 0.200 and 0.250. All the glasses studied, unlike GeO₂ glass, exhibit internal crystal nucleation without the addition of any nucleating agent. The devitrification processes occur in one or more steps. Phases which crystallized at each step are identified and crystallization mechanisms proposed. These crystallization mechanisms are related to structures of the crystallizing phases. Activation energy values as well as those for glass transition temperatures, do not vary linearly with increase in Li₂O content but pass through a maximum atx=0.200.     

Gel synthesis and crystallization of lithium-germanate glass powders

Lithium germanate gels, whose compositions are expressed by the general formula Li₂O·xGeO₂ with x=3; 4; 7, were synthesized by hydrolytic polycondensation of germanium ethoxide with lithium methoxide (x=3 and 7) or lithium hydroxide monohydrate (x=4) in alcoholic medium. The values of glass transition temperature of the gels exhibit a maximum at x=4. Crystallization behaviour of the gels, examined by differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction, is reported and discussed. The terms x=4 and 7 crystallize in two steps. Microcrystallites of the same composition of the gel are initially formed in an amorphous matrix and are then converted at higher temperatures into well shaped crystals. In term x=3, Li₂GeO₃ and Li₂Ge₄O₉ crystals are directly formed. The values of activation energy for each crystallization step are consistent with the crystallization mechanisms and comparable with those reported with conventional melt glasses from oxides.     

Electronic polarizability and crystallization of K2O-TiO2-GeO2 glasses with high TiO2 contents

Some K₂O-TiO₂-GeO₂ glasses with a large amount of TiO₂ contents (15-25 mol%) such as 25K₂O-25TiO₂-50GeO₂ have been prepared, and their electronic polarizability, Raman scattering spectra, and crystallization behavior are examined to clarify thermal properties and structure of the glasses and to develop new nonlinear optical crystallized glasses. It is proposed that the glasses consist of the network of TiO₆ and GeO₄ polyhedra. The glasses show large optical basicities of Λ=0.88-0.92, indicating the high polarizabity of TiO_n (n=4-6) polyhedra in the glasses. K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals are formed through crystallization in all glasses prepared in the present study. In particular, 20K₂O-20TiO₂-60GeO₂ glass shows bulk crystallization and 18K₂O-18TiO₂-64GeO₂ glass exhibits surface crystallization giving the c-axis orientation. The crystallized glasses show second harmonic generations (SHGs), and it is suggested that the distortion of TiO₆ octahedra in K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals induces SHGs.     

Devitrification Behavior of Calcium Phosphate Glasses Containing Al2O3 and SiO2 Additives

The effects of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ additives on the crystallization of calcium phosphate glasses were studied. When the Al₂O₃ content was higher than 7 mol%, surface devitrification occurred in the glasses. However, for glasses with Al₂O₃ contents higher than 10 mol%, bulk devitrification predominanted. For the glasses with SiO₂, a surface devitrification mechanism predominanted. Non-isothermal DTA techniques were applied in order to establish the devitrification mechanism, and the kinetic parameters of crystal growth were obtained. The parameter m depends on the mechanism and morphology of devitrification of calcium phosphate, glass containing SiO₂ as additive, the values of m being lower than 1.2. These results indicate that the devitrification is controlled by the reaction at the glass-crystal interface, or occurs from surface nuclei. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

IrIn7GeO8 = [IrIn6](GeO4)(InO4) und Verbindungen der Mischkristallreihe [IrIn6](Ge1+xIn1−4x/3O8) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) – erste Oxide mit [IrIn6]‐Oktaedern

IrIn₇GeO₈ = [IrIn₆](GeO₄)(InO₄) and Compounds of the Solid Solution Series [IrIn₆](Ge_1+xIn_1?4x/3O₈) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.75): First Oxides containing [IrIn₆] Octahedra The low valent indiumoxides IrIn₇GeO₈ = [IrIn₆](GeO₄)(InO₄) and [IrIn₆](Ge_1+xIn_1?4x/3O₈) (0 x ≤ 0.75) are formed by heating intimate mixtures of Ir, In, In₂O₃ and GeO₂ in corundum crucibles under an atmosphere of argon (1420 K, 70 h). The compounds are black and semiconducting. X‐ray powder diffraction patterns can be indexed on the basis of a face centered cubic unit cell with lattice parameters ranging from a = 1012.3(1) pm (x = 0) to a = 1007.3(1) pm (x = 0.75). Characteristic building units in [IrIn₆](Ge_1+xIn_1?4x/3O₈) are isolated [IrIn₆]⁹⁺ octahedra with short Ir‐In distances of 253.5 pm, which are linked via [GeO₄]^4? and [InO₄]^5? tetrahedra to a three dimensional framework. Starting from IrIn₇GeO₈ = [IrIn₆](GeO₄)(InO₄), the isoelectronic substitution of 4 In³⁺ ions by 3 Ge⁴⁺ ions and one Ge‐vacancy leads to the formation of a solid solution series [IrIn₆](GeO₄)_1+x(O₄)_x/3(InO₄)_1?4x/3, which shows a slight decrease in the cubic lattice parameter with increasing x. According to Rietveld refinements the structure of [IrIn₆](GeO₄)(InO₄) exhibits a statistical distribution of the tetrahedrally coordinated Ge and In atoms ( , R(prof.) = 4.4 %, R(int.) = 2.5 %). The crystal and electronic structures of [IrIn₆](GeO₄)(InO₄) are discussed on the basis of first principles electronic structure calculations.     

Crystallization and second harmonic generation in potassium-sodium niobiosilicate glasses

Transparent glasses having molar composition (23−x)K₂O·xNa₂O·27Nb₂O₅·50SiO₂ (x=0, 5, 10, 15 and 23) have been synthesized by the melt-quenching technique and their devitrification behaviour has been investigated by DTA and XRD. Depending on the composition, the glasses showed a glass transition temperature in the range 660-680 °C and devitrified in several steps. XRD measurements showed that the replacement of K₂O by Na₂O strongly affects the crystallization behaviour. Particularly, in the glasses with only potassium or low sodium content the first devitrification step is related to the crystallization of an unidentified phase, while in the glass containing only sodium, NaNbO₃ crystallizes. For an intermediate sodium content (x=10 and 15) a potassium sodium niobate crystalline phase, belonging to the tungsten-bronze family, is formed by bulk nucleation. This system looks promising to produce active nanostructured glasses as the tungsten-bronze type crystals have ferroelectric, electro-optical and non-linear optical properties. Preliminary measurements evidenced SHG activity in the crystallized glasses containing this phase.     

Crystallization of niobium germanosilicate glasses

Niobium germanosilicate glasses are potential candidates for the fabrication of transparent glass ceramics with interesting non-linear optical properties. A series of glasses in the (Ge,Si)O₂-Nb₂O₅-K₂O system were prepared by melting and casting and their characteristic temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis. Progressive replacement of GeO₂ by SiO₂ improved the thermal stability of the glasses. Depending on the composition and the crystallization heat-treatment, different nanocrystalline phases—KNbSi₂O₇, K₃Nb₃Si₂O₁₃ and K_3.8Nb₅Ge₃O_20.4 could be obtained. The identification and characterization of these phases were performed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.The 40 GeO₂-10 SiO₂-25 Nb₂O₅-25 K₂O (mol%) composition presented the higher ability for volume crystallization and its nucleation temperature was determined by the Marotta's method. An activation energy for crystal growth of ∼529 kJ/mol and a nucleation rate of 9.7×10¹⁸ m⁻³ s⁻¹ was obtained, for this composition. Transparent glass ceramics with a crystalline volume fraction of ∼57% were obtained after a 2 h heat-treatment at the nucleation temperature, with crystallite sizes of ∼20 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy.     

Ketten aus Ringen: K5{Li[Ge2O7]} — das erste „Litho-Digermanat”︁

Chains consisting of Rings: K₅{Li[Ge₂O₇]} — the First ‘Litho-Digermanate’ By heating of a well-ground mixture of the binary oxides KO_0.55, Li₂O and GeO₂ (K: Li: Ge = 6.1 : 2.2 : 2; Ni-tube; 600°C; 49 d) we obtained for the first time single crystals of K₅{Li[Ge₂O₇]}. This ‘lithodigermanate’ represents a completely new type of structure: monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 624.9(2) pm, b = 1586.6(8) pm; c = 1058.3(6) pm and β = 109.38(4)°; Guinier-Simon data, Z = 4. The structure was solved by four-circle diffractometer data [Siemens AED II, Mo? Kα ; 2872 I_o(hkl); R = 4.5%, R_w = 3.3%], parameters see text. The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, and Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN, these calculated via Mean Fictive Ionic Radii, MEFIR, as well as charge distribution CHARDI, are calculated and discussed.     

Röntgenographische Untersuchungen in den Systemen GeO2-{K2O,Rb2O,Cs2O}

Zusammenfassung Folgende GeO₂-reiche Alkaligermanate wurden aufgefunden und röntgenographisch hinsichtlich der Gitterparameter charakterisiert: K₂Ge₈O₁₇ und Rb₂Ge₈O₁₇ (isotyp), Rb₂Ge₇O₁₅ und Cs₂Ge₅O₁₁. Die Existenz der seinerzeit als Pentagermanate beschriebenen isotypen Verbindungen von K, Rb, Cs und Tl sowie deren Gitterparameter werden bestätigt, doch ergab eine ausführliche Prüfung an gut kristallisierten Produkten zusammen mit den genau bestimmten Dichtewerten eine geringfügige Verschiebung im Verhältnis Me₂O/GeO₂, entsprechend einer Formel Me₂Ge₆O₁₃.

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The GeO₂-rich regions of alkaline germanate systems have been examined by X-rays. The compounds K₂Ge₈O₁₇ and Rb₂Ge₈O₁₇ (isostructural), Rb₂Ge₇O₁₅ and Cs₂Ge₅O₁₁ have been detected and characterized by their lattice parameters. The existence as well as the cell dimensions of the isotypic compounds previously described as pentagermanates have been corroborated; a detailed investigation of completely crystallized material gives strong evidence for a lower Me₂O/GeO₂-ratio, in accordance with precise density measurements. Thus a formulaMe ₂Ge₆O₁₃ (Me=K, Rb, Cs, Tl) has to be assumed.

     

Die Kristallstruktur des Tetragermanats K2Ba[Ge4O9]2

The crystal structure of the compound K₂Ba[Ge₄O₉]₂ has been determined by means of three-dimensional X-ray data resulting a finalR-value of 0.034. The lattice constants of the trigonal unit cell ( ) are:a=11.729 (I) andc=19.278 (3) Å. There is a close structural relationship to the tetragermanates K₂Ge₄O₉ and BaGe₄O₉. The new compound also consists of three-membered rings built up by [GeO₄] tetrahedra, which are linked by [GeO₆] octahedra forming a three-dimensional network.According to their powder diagrams the following compounds are isostructural to K₂Ba[Ge₄O₉]₂: Na₂Ba[Ge₄O₉]₂, Rb₂Ba[Ge₄O₉]₂, Na₂Sr[Ge₄O₉]₂ and K₂Sr[Ge₄O₉]₂.     

A Study on the Thermal Behaviour of Solder Glass

Vitreous solder glasses, such as Mansol #40 and FEG-2002, are commercialized solder glasses, which are compression sealing glasses that can be used to solder materials with expansions between 55-68⊙10^-7°C^-1, such as Al₂O₃. In order to understand and tailor the thermal behaviour of solder glasses, cylindrical-like glasses were first carefully ground with a stainless steel mortar and pestle. Initially, no exothermic or endothermic data were obtained from the DTA/DSC curves except those relating to melting. However, exothermic peaks appeared after the glass samples were re-melted. In this work, kinetic parameters such as the activation energy, and the morphology of the devitrification mechanisms for two kinds of solder glasses were also investigated, using non-isothermal DTA techniques. The activation energies ranged from 220 to 235 kJ mol^-1 and the devitrification mechanism parameters were close to 1. This indicates that the devitrification mechanisms of the two kinds of solder glasses involve surface nuclei. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydrothermal crystal synthesis in the Ho2O3(Yb2O3)GeO2KFH2O systems

Crystallization in the Ho₂O₃(Yb₂O₃)GeO₂KFH₂O systems has been investigated under hydrothermal conditions. Crystallization fields of the crystalline phases have been determined. Single crystals of Ho₂Ge₂O₇, Yb₂Ge₂O₇ (two types), K₂HoF₅, K₂YbF₅, K_xYb_yGe_pO_q (P-type), Ho(OH)₃, Yb(OH)₃, and K₂Ge₄O₉ have been obtained. The germanates synthesized have been studied by X-ray analysis and infrared-spectroscopy. Diorthogermanate Yb₂Ge₂O₇ has been found to crystallize in two structural types; the first is characterized by the usual structure that is typical for rare-earth germanates, the second is new for germanates of rare-earth elements. High chemical resistance is typical of these crystals. The P-type germanate also has a new type of structure among rare earth germanates. Some suggestions are made as to the structure of these new germanates on the basis of X-ray and ir-spectroscopic data.     

Infrared,Raman and XPS spectroscopic studies of Bi2O3–B2O3–GeO2 glasses

Glasses with composition 50Bi₂O₃–(50 ? x) B₂O₃–xGeO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) were prepared by conventional melting method. The thermal properties were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the structures of the glasses were probed by Infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that density, refractive index and optical basicity increase with the increase of GeO₂. The glass transition temperature (T_g), onset crystallization temperature (T_x) and ΔT (T_x ? T_g) increase as well. The cut-off edges in ultraviolet and infrared shift to longer wavelength by the addition of GeO₂. Infrared, Raman and XPS results indicate that the glass network consists of [Bi–O₆] octahedron, [BO₃] triangle, [BO₄] tetrahedron and [GeO₄] tetrahedron and borate oxide mainly exists in [BO₃] units. XPS result indicates Ge⁴⁺ ions form steady [GeO₄] tetrahedra units in the glass network and the number of non-bridging oxygens decreases with the addition of GeO₂.     

M4Ge9O20碱金属锗酸盐晶体、玻璃及熔体结构的拉曼光谱研究

本文研究了M₄Ge₉O₂₀型锗酸盐(M=Na,K)273～1 373 K常温、高温及熔体拉曼光谱。应用量子化学从头计算方法计算了系列二元钠锗酸盐离子簇模型振动频率。M₄Ge₉O₂₀型锗酸盐晶体结构四配位锗、六配位锗共存。研究表明,随温度升高六配位锗将逐渐转变为四配位锗,产生非桥氧,并观察到在熔点以后全部转变为四配位锗,且其桥氧角分布范围为94～145°,其高频区非桥氧对称伸缩振动频率与其精细结构密切相关,振动频率等性质主要依赖于其精细结构而非其初级结构单元-GeO₄,非桥氧对称伸缩振动频率随锗氧四面体应力指数SIT(Stress Index of Tetrahedron)的增大而增大,与实验所得到的频率与SIT的线性关系一致。玻璃结构以四配位锗为主,存在少量六配位锗,其含量取决于冷速的大小。     

Cluster self-organization of germanate systems: Suprapolyhedral precursor clusters and self-assembly of K2Nd4Ge4O13(OH)4, K2YbGe4O10(OH), K2Sc2Ge2O7(OH)2, and KScGe2O6(PYR)

Geometric and topological analysis of all known types of K,TR germanates (TR = La-Lu, Y, Sc, In) is carried out with the use of computer techniques (the TOPOS 4.0 program package). Framework structures are represented as three-dimensional (3D) K,TR,Ge networks (graphs) with oxygen atoms removed. The following crystal-forming 2D TR,Ge networks are determined: for K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, this is TR 4 3 3 4 3 3 + T 4 3 4 3; for K₂YbGe₄O₁₀(OH), this is TR 6 6 3 6 + T 1 6 8 6 + T 2 3 6 8; for K₂Sc₂Ge₂O₇(OH)₂, this is TR 6 4 6 4 + T 6 4 6; and for KScGe₂O₆, TR 6 6 3 6 3 4 + T 1 6 3 6 + T 2 6 4 3. The full 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly mechanism of crystal structures is performed as follows: precursor cluster—primary chain—microlayer-microframework (supraprecursor). In K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, K₂Sc₂Ge₂O₇(OH)₂, and KScGe₂O₆, an invariant type of cyclic six-polyhedral precursor cluster is identified; this precursor clusters is built of TR octahedra, which are stabilized by atoms K. For K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, the type of cyclic four-polyhedral precursor cluster of tetrahedron-linked TR octatopes is identified. The cluster coordination number in a layer is six (the maximum possible value) only for anhydrous germanate KScGe₂O₆ (an analogue of pyroxene, PYR); in the other OH-containing germanates, this number is four. The mechanism of formation of Ge radicals in the form of groups Ge₂O₇ and Ge₄O₁₃, a chain GeO₃, and a tubular assembly of linked cyclic groups Ge₈O₂₀ is considered.     

Al2O3/K2O-containing non-stoichiometric lithium disilicate-based glasses

The crystallisation kinetics of experimental glasses in 3 different systems: (A) Li₂O–SiO₂, (B) Li₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ and (C) Li₂O–K₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ were studied under non-isothermal conditions. The DTA results revealed a stronger tendency to crystallisation of binary compositions in comparison to the ternary and quaternary compositions comprising Al₂O₃ and K₂O which present the lower crystallisation, i.e. the crystallisation propensity follows the trend A > B > C. The devitrification process in the Li₂O–SiO₂ and Li₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ systems began earlier and the rate was higher in comparison to that of glasses in the quaternary Li₂O–K₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ system. Thus, addition of Al₂O₃ and K₂O to glasses of Li₂O–SiO₂ system was demonstrated to promote glass stability against crystallisation. However, the activation energy for crystallisation was shown to depend also on the SiO₂/Li₂O ratio with the binary system showing a decreasing trend with increasing SiO₂/Li₂O ratio, while the opposite tendency was being observed for compositions with added Al₂O₃ and K₂O.     

Structure ofA2Ge4O9-Type Sodium Tetragermanate (Na2Ge4O9) and Comparison with Other Alkali Germanate and Silicate Mixed Tetrahedral–Octahedral Framework Structures

Long-standing uncertainty on the structure type of Na₂Ge₄O₉has been resolved. Sodium tetragermanate has been grown by crystallization from a supercooled melt and its single-crystal X-ray structure has been determined (R=0.022). Sodium tetragermanate is trigonal witha=11.3234(12),c=9.6817(9) Å, space groupP c1,Z=6, andD_x=4.451 g cm⁻³. The structure is comprised of a mixed tetrahedral–octahedral framework with three-membered [Ge₃O₉] rings of GeO₄tetrahedra interconnected by isolated GeO₆octahedra via shared corners and isA₂Ge₄O₉-type. Bond distances and angles for GeO₄tetrahedra and GeO₆octahedra are very similar to the corresponding values in the type structure of K₂Ge₄O₉, the two structures differing mainly in the accommodation of the smaller (medium–large-sized) Na cation, which is now in a 5+2 coordination. The structure–composition relationships of wadeite-type,A₂Ge₄O₉-type, and Na₂Si₄O₉-type structures of germanates and silicates depend largely on theT–O distance and the size of the monovalent cation. We confirm that sodium tetragermanate is a metastable phase at all pressures up to 2 kbar, the stable assemblage for the Na₂Ge₄O₉composition being sodium enneagermanate (Na₄Ge₉O₂₀) plus a more sodic phase.     

Die kristallstruktur des kaliumtetragermanats K2[Ge4O9]

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstruktur des Kaliumtetragermanats, K₂[Ge₄O₉], wurde mit Hilfe dreidimensionaler Röntgendaten bestimmt. K₂[Ge₄O₉] kristallisiert trigonal mit der Raumgruppe P033034c1 (Nr. 165) und den Gitterparametern:a=11.84 undc=9.80 Å. Die vorgeschlagene strukturchemische Beziehung zum Wadeit, K₂Zr[Si₃O₉], wird durch die Existenz tetraedrischer [Ge₃O₉]-Ringe, die über [GeO₆]-Oktaeder zu einem dreidimensionalen Gerüst verknüpft sind, bestätigt. Es wurden folgende mittlere Ge–O-Abstände gefunden: 1.762 (Tetraeder) und 1.886 Å (Oktaeder).

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The crystal structure of potassium tetragermanate K₂[Ge₄O₉]

The crystal structure of potassium tetragermanate K₂[Ge₄O₉] has been determined by means of three-dimensional x-ray data. K₂[Ge₄O₉] crystallizes trigonal with space group P033034c1 (No. 165) and lattice parametersa=11.84 andc=9.80 Å. The proposed structural relationship to wadeite K₂Zr[Si₃O₉] is confirmed by the existence of [Ge₃O₉] rings built by tetrahedra, which are linked by [GeO₆] octahedra forming a three-dimensional network. The mean Ge–O distances are found to be: 1.762 (tetrahedra) and 1.886 Å (octahedra).

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Mit 2 Abbildungen

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Herrn Prof. Dr.H. Nowotny in Verehrung gewidmet.     

Intense d-p Hybridization in Nb3O15 Tripolymer Induced the Largest Second Harmonic Generation Response and Birefringence in Germanates

We herein report two asymmetric germanate crystals, KNbGe₃O₉ and K₃Nb₃Ge₂O₁₃, with different structures and optical properties derived from divergent polymerized forms of GeO₄ and NbO₆ groups. Remarkably, K₃Nb₃Ge₂O₁₃ achieved a rare combination of the strongest second harmonic generation (SHG) response of 17.5×KDP @ 1064 nm and the largest birefringence of 0.196 @ 546 nm in germanates. It features unique [Nb₃O₁₂]_∞ tubular chains constructed by circular Nb₃O₁₅ tripolymers. Theoretical calculations reveal that the d-p interactions in the Nb₃O₁₅ group are responsible for outstanding optical properties. This work emphasizes the significance of the polymerizable functional units in obtaining high-performance nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals.