Effect of Si addition on In2O3 crystallization in soda-boro-aluminosilicate glass

Abstract The Effect of Si addition on In 2 O 3 crystallization in a soda-boro-aluminosilicate glass was investigated. Si was found to be an essential component for obtaining glass material because the Si-free batch did not vitrify under the same condition. Transmission electron microscopy measurements on the glasses synthesized revealed that In 2 O 3 particles with diameter 5 nm size precipitated by an annealing for 3 h at more than 550 °C and their size increased with an increase of heat-treatment temperature. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement, the binding energy of In 2 O 3 for as prepared glass shifted to higher binding energy after annealing in air. The band gap of In 2 O 3 particles decreased from 3.9 eV for as prepared glass samples to 2.6 eV for the glass sample annealed at 600 °C.