Infrared studies of devitrification Li2O·B2O3·2GeO2 glass

The results of FT-IR spectroscopy studies of the crystal products are presented. A glass, with a composition according to the formula of Li2O·B2O3·2GeO2 has been synthesized. The glass has been devitrificated at various temperatures (480–750 8C) and over various periods of time (0.5–30 h). The analysis of the obtained vibrational spectra allows us to make some conclusions on the structure of the studied devitrificates: they are made of polymerised tetrahedral BO4 and GeO4 units. The additional X-ray diffraction studies allows us to establish the phase composition of the mentioned devitrificates. The identified phase is lithium borogermanate Li[BGeO4] which is a non-ferroelectric polar phase. Therefore, the obtained compound can be used for piezo- and pyroelectric devices. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.