Structure of sol-gel-derived sodium dititanate glass

The sodium dititanate, Na2O . 2TiO(2) glass was prepared by the sol-gel method. The structure of the glass, especially local environment of Ti4+ ions was examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses, and was compared with that of the melt-derived glass with the same composition. It was found that Ti4+ ions are rather in five-fold coordination state, forming TiO5 pyramids with one doubly bonded Ti=O in the gel-glass, while they were in lower coordination state or four-fold coordination in the melt-derived glass.