ZnTiO3-nanoparticles effect on the structure, FTIR, and optical properties of SiO2-B2O3-Al2O3 glasses

ZnTiO3 nanoparticles (NPS), synthesized using a sol-gel process from zinc acetate dihydrate and titanium tetrabutanolate, were incorporated into aluminum borosilicate glasses to enhance their effectiveness in water purification. Integrating ZnTiO3-NPS at the expense of SiO2 causes significant alterations by converting [BO3] to [BO4], modifying the Si-O bonds with other metal oxides, and creating a denser structure with more bridging oxygens. The structural improvement is indicated by higher ultrasonic velocities and elastic moduli, demonstrating a stronger and more unified glass framework. The study investigates how different concentrations of ZnTiO3-NPS affect the glasses' structure and mechanical and optical properties, specifically observing changes in light transmission, such as a blueshift in the absorption edge towards longer wavelengths. This blueshift due to ZnTiO3-NPS was assured by the observed decrease in the optical band gap (Eg) values and the increase in the mean oscillator position (lambda o) values. Furthermore, the real (6r) and imaginary (6i) parts of the optical conductivity, nonlinear optical parameters viz. first (chi(1)) and third (chi(3)) orders subsatellites, and nonlinear index of refraction (n2) have been estimated based on the values of the linear index of refraction (n) and the extinction coefficient (k). The optical modifications impact the refractive index, suggesting various potential technological applications based on the ZnTiO3 levels.