Sintering effects on Sm3+-doped willemite glass-ceramics: structural, mechanical, and optical studies

Willemite glass-ceramics are promising for optoelectronic applications due to their compatibility with rare-earth dopants and stability. The use of sustainable raw materials such as glass waste further enhances their appeal in green material development. In this study, Sm3+-doped willemite glass-cer...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cheong, Wei Mun, Mohd Zaid, Mohd Hafiz, Matori, Khamirul Amin, Loh, Zhi Wei
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Elsevier B.V. 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/122338/1/122338.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/122338/
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0925346725009000
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Summary:Willemite glass-ceramics are promising for optoelectronic applications due to their compatibility with rare-earth dopants and stability. The use of sustainable raw materials such as glass waste further enhances their appeal in green material development. In this study, Sm3+-doped willemite glass-ceramics were synthesized from zinc-borosilicate glass using the melt and fast-quenching technique, followed by sintering, with soda-lime-silica glass waste serving as a substitute raw material for SiO2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the development of α-Zn2SiO4 crystals above 800 °C. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed Sm concentrated in the glassy phase (4.65 wt%), with minimal incorporation in crystalline regions (∼0.25 wt%). Vickers hardness and fracture toughness reached maximum values of (5.61 ± 0.14) GPa and (2.91 ± 0.55) MPa∙m1/2 when the sample was sintered at 800 °C. The optical absorption edge moved from 241 nm to 252 nm, and the direct band gap narrowed from (5.023 ± 0.003) eV to (4.451 ± 0.003) eV. Additionally, the sample sintered at 800 °C exhibited a 60.9 % increase in photoluminescence intensity compared to the as-synthesized glass. CIE chromaticity coordinates around (0.57, 0.42) and a CCT range of 1740–1810 K confirmed warm reddish-orange emission. These results highlight the material's potential as a sustainable reddish-orange phosphor for optoelectronic applications.