A new route for the synthesis of pure Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 crystals by glass melt-cooling method

摘要

Pure eulytite Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 crystals were prepared by high temperature melt cooling method using Bi_2O_3 and SiO_2 as starting materials. In this study, the properties of the samples were characterized by thermo gravimetric (TG), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that eulytite Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 was crystallized when high temperature glass-melt were cooled to 943 °C and obvious exothermal peak is shown on the DSC curve;;and pure eulytite Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 crystals were synthesized by keeping the processing temperature for 8 hours. Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 grains grew larger and the amount of vacancy increased along with the extension of holding time, while Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 grains still presented a structure of partial ordering. Eulytite Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 prepared through melt-cooling method is of high purity and good stability, and can be applied as starting materials of preparation of Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 thin film and high quality Bi_4(SiO_4)_3 macrocrystal.