The Role of Nanocrystallization for the Enhancement of Structural, Electrical, and Transport Properties of BaTiO3-V2O5-PbO Glasses

Abstract

Glass-ceramic nanocrystals (GCNs) were created via annealing at crystallization temperature T c for the parent BaTiO3-V2O5-PbO glasses prepared by the melt quenching technique. The amorphous character of the existing quenched glasses was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the general characteristics of x-ray diffraction support the amorphous nature of the glasses. In the related heat-treated samples, the typical nanostructure size is less than 60 nm. It was discovered that an increase in the density of the GCNs occurred with an increase in the BaTiO3 percentage. Also, with increasing BaTiO3 content, a slight increase was observed in the crystallization and glass transition temperature from 335°C to 365°C and 265°C to 320°C, respectively. It was revealed that suitable nanocrystallization at temperatures around the onset of T c for 1 h was able to significantly increase the electronic conductivity of the initial glasses. The accumulation of V4+–V5+ pairs at the interlayer zones created between nanocrystallites and the glassy phase were accountable for electron hopping in the current approach, which was significantly higher than in the glass phase. The experimental findings were investigated in a model based on the “core–shell” idea. Appropriate values for the different small polaron hopping (SPH) variables were found from the best fits. Non-adiabatic hopping of small polarons was responsible for the conduction. As a result of the alteration of the nanostructure, conductivity was enhanced. Compared to the original glasses, the final materials have significantly better electrical conductivity. Such characteristics can be utilized in the design for industrial applications.