Infrared studies of devitrification of glasses in the Li2O-B2O3-GeO2 system

In this paper the results of FT-IR spectroscopic studies of the devitrificates have been shown. The glasses, with the compositions according to the formula Li2O .B2O3. GeO2 and Li2O .B2O3. 4GeO(2), have been synthesised. The glasses have been devitrificated in various temperatures (450-750 degreesC) and periods of time (0.5-40 h). The interpretation of the obtained vibrational spectra allows us to make some conclusions on the structure of the studied devitrificates: they are made of BO4 and GeO4 tetrahedra, and also BO3 triangles (for devitrificates with higher B2O3 content). The additional X-ray diffraction studies allow us to establish phase the composition of the mentioned devitrificates. The main identified phases are borates, germanates and borogermanates of lithium which are non-ferroelectric polar phases. Therefore, the obtained materials can be applied for both piezo- and pyroelectric devices [1]. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.