Growth of different nanocrystalline phases in ZnO-Li2O-B2O3-TiO2-V2O5 glass and their effect on photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity

30Li(2)O-55B(2)O(3)-5ZnO-7.5TiO(2)-2.5V(2)O(5) (mol%) glass is heat treated at different temperatures and durations to study the growth of nanocrystalline phases and their effect on various properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystallization of the nano-Zn4O(BO2)(6), LiV6O13 and Li-0.74(Ti3O6) phases along with glass matrix. Photoluminescence emission spectrum also confirmed the crystallization of nanostructured Zn4O(BO2)(6) in the glass matrix. The glass ceramics contain various borate groups as observed in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The optical band gap of glass-ceramics lies in the range of 3.46-3.56eV. Fast and maximum degradation efficiency (72%) is observed for organic methylene blue dye for glass heat-treated at 520 degrees C for 10 min. The present nanocrystalline glass-ceramics could be good photocatalysts with higher thermal stability and inertness than polymeric/ceramic capped nanocrystalline photocatalysts. The present method could pave an alternative and efficient way to degrade the organic substances in UV-Visible light without using any capping agent.

Automated summary

The study investigates the growth of nanocrystalline phases in 30Li(2)O-55B(2)O(3)-5ZnO-7.5TiO(2)-2.5V(2)O(5) (mol%) glass through heat treatments, revealing the presence of Zn4O(BO2)(6), LiV6O13, and Li-0.74(Ti3O6) phases. The resulting glass ceramics show potential as photocatalysts for organic substance degradation in UV-Visible light without the need for capping agents.