Enhancement of structural and optical properties of transparent sodium zinc phosphate glass–ceramics nano composite

Abstract Transparent sodium phosphate glass–ceramics system according to the composition (55- x ) P 2 O 5 .(30 + )ZnO.15Na where = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 was prepared with melt quenching technique. Different techniques such as XRD infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used investigate structure of studied glass samples nano composite. revealed formation crystalline phase. The phase Na Zn (P 7 ZnP .Zn has been detected which varies ZnO concentration. density increased whereas molar volume decreased content increased. Optical band gap values, direct indirect, increasing revealing that bridging oxygen linkage Zn–O-P present in network. gaps found be ranging between 3.42 3.13 eV for indirect transition 4.34 4.20 transitions. It concluded have a strong tendency crystallized sample. This crystallization behavior affected optical properties samples. In this work, low cost, wide transparent ceramic range transparency investigated. Such glass–ceramic is suitable doping rare-earth element and/or metals laser devices.