Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2019) 134: 370
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2019-12898-0

Regular Article

Fabrication and characterization of crystalline Bi₂TeO₅ - Bi₄Si₃O₁₂ - SiO₂ nanocomposite

¹ Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, 72 Haharina Ave., 49010, Dnipro, Ukraine
² Applied Physics Department, Tafila Technical University, P.O. Box 40, Al-Eis 66141, Tafila, Jordan
³ Technische Universität Chemnitz, Institute of Chemistry, AG Elektrochemie, Strasse der Nationen 62, D-09111, Chemnitz, Germany

^* e-mail: derhachov_mp@dnu.dp.ua

Received: 22 July 2018
Accepted: 17 May 2019
Published online: 31 July 2019

Abstract

The matrix nanocomposite described here is fabricated using a reactive melt infiltration process exploiting crystalline bismuth tellurite (Bi₂TeO₅) powder and porous silica dioxide (SiO₂) matrix as original components. The original matrix, that is composed of regularly arranged amorphous SiO₂ spheres, and is known as synthetic opal, reacts with the molten Bi₂TeO₅, forming three components (Bi₂TeO₅, bismuth orthosilicate (Bi₄Si₃O₁₂), and -cristobalite) when cooled down to room temperature. The first two components can be considered as a set of nanocrystals with an average linear size more than 30nm and lattice parameters changed in comparison with those in a single crystal lattice. The -cristobalite component is formed rather as a network at the sites of amorphous SiO₂ spheres whose presence in the obtained composite is not detected. A dominant role of bismuth ions in breaking the Si-O-Si bonds in a bridge-like structure of amorphous SiO₂ spheres is proposed.