Infrared studies of devitrification Li2O•B2O3•2GeO2 glass

The results of FT-IR spectroscopy studies of the crystal products are presented. A glass, with a composition according to the formula of (Li2OB2O3MeO2)-B-.-Me-. has been synthesized. The glass has been devitrificated at various temperatures (480-750 degreesC) and over various periods of time (0.5-30 h). The analysis of the obtained vibrational spectra allows us to make some conclusions on the structure of the studied devitrificates: they are made of polymerised tetrahedral BO4 and GeO4 units. The additional X-ray diffraction studies allows us to establish the phase composition of the mentioned devitrificates. The identified phase is lithium borogermanate Li[BGeO4] which is a non-ferroelectric polar phase. Therefore, the obtained compound can be used for piezo- and pyroelectric devices. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.