Structural and magnetic properties of glass-ceramics containing silver and iron oxide

Glass-ceramics with a nominal composition of 25SiO2–(50 − x)CaO–15P2O5–8Fe2O3–2ZnO–xAg (where x = 0, 2 and 4 mol%) have been prepared. Structural features of glass-ceramics have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. Magnetic properties were studied using vibrating sample magnetometer and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Ca3(PO4)2, hematite and magnetite are formed as major crystalline phases. The microstructure reveals the formation of 25–30 nm size particles. Mössbauer spectroscopy has shown the relaxation of magnetic particles. Saturation magnetization value is increased with an increase of Ag content up to 4 mol%, which has been attributed to the formation of magnetically ordered particles. The antibacterial response was found to depend on Ag ions concentration in the glass matrix and samples with 4 mol% Ag in glass matrix have shown effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.