Spherical Sm3+ doped Ba2TiSi2O8 (BTS) glasses were prepared using containerless aerodynamic levitation technology. The glass prepared by aerodynamic levitation technology exhibited enhanced glass stability compared to the conventional glassmaking process via melt-quenching. With increasing heat treatment temperature, the lattice parameter (a) of the nano- or micro-crystalline BTS crystals formed in the glass decreased, but the lattice parameter (c) increased. The values of the Avrami exponent (n) and Ozawa exponent (m) for Sm3+ doped BTS glass calculated using the Ozawa equation and Mo equation were both approximately 3, indicating the three-dimensional growth of BTS crystals. The activation energies using the modified Ozawa equation and modified Kissinger equation were 530.3 kJ/mol and 524.3 kJ/mol, respectively. Nanocrystallized Sm3+ doped BTS glass exhibited yellow-green (564 nm), orange (601 nm) and red (647 and 709 nm) luminescence. The optimal heat treatment for high efficiency PL emission was found to be 750 oC.
Keywords: Aerodynamic levitation, Ba2TiSi2O8, Microstructure, Crystallization parameter, Photoluminescence.