Effect of transition metals (MO-TiO2, MnO2, Fe2O3, and ZnO) on crystallization and electrical conductivity of SiO2–CaO–Na2O–P2O5-based glass-ceramics

Various glasses are synthesized by melt quench technique. The addition of transition metal (TM) oxides into glasses paves the light on their crystallization and sinterability. The formation of different crystalline phases and their microstructures significantly influenced the conduction mechanism in these glass-ceramics. ZnO seemed to act as glass modifier, while TiO2 appears to act as glass former in the present glasses. Other two TM oxides might have played a role as intermediate oxides. The present glass-ceramics are mixed conductors (ionic+electronic). MnO2-contained sample shows highest electrical conductivity while Fe2O3-contained sample show lowest conductivity. The observed results are interpreted on the basis of structural differences of the samples.