NANOCRYSTALLITE GLASS-CERAMIC AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

摘要

Glass-ceramic materials are fabricated by infiltrating a porous glass matrix with a precursor for the crystalline phase, drying, chemically reacting the precursor, and firing to produce a consolidated glass-ceramic material. The pore size of the glass matrix constrains the growth and distribution of nanocrystallite size structures. The precursor infiltrates the porous glass matrix as an aqueous solution, organic solvent solution, or molten salt. Chemical reaction steps may include decomposition of salts and reduction or oxidation reactions. Glass-ceramics produced using Fe-containing dopants exhibit properties of magnetism, low Fe2+ concentrations, optical transparency in the near-infrared spectrum, and low scattering losses. Increased surface area permits expanded catalytic activity.