Institute of Glass

Abstract Designing a single glass composition for a multidimensional property space is challenging, and the difficulty increases with the number of design criteria. Traditionally, the task is accomplished using multiple statistical models that describe the relationships between composition (C) and property (P) values, i.e., C‐P models. Recently, the structure (S)‐property (P) statistical modeling has emerged as a complementary approach. The S‐P modeling approach has also been shown to be a preferred method for modeling glass properties, particularly when a small data set is available, such as in single‐component studies, or when strong nonlinearities exist between composition and properties. The combined model package, C‐S‐P, implements the concept of generic glass design, i.e., designing glass for performance by first selecting a specific or optimized set of glass network structural groups using S‐P models and then transferring the designed structures (genes) to a particular composition using C‐S models. This article reviews a set of supporting cases from the previous C‐S‐P modeling studies of phosphate, silicate, and borosilicate glasses, which are relevant for many critical commercial applications. The methodology for developing the statistical C‐S‐P database is presented, enabling the application of P→S→C to achieve a generic glass design and optimization, targeting multiple design criteria for both performance and processing properties simultaneously.

Doctor-blading is a promising alternative for the large-area printing of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of doctor-bladed OSCs are still lower than those of their spin-cast counterparts. This is mainly caused by the prolonged molecular organization time during which excessive aggregation can be encouraged. In this work, a post-treatment using nitrogen gas to blow the backside of the photoactive layer, i.e., the ITO glass side, was utilized to modulate the aggregation growth after blade-coating from a nonhalogenated solvent. A range of morphological measurements reveal that gas-blowing suppresses excessive aggregation of nonfullerene acceptors. As a result, gas-blowing treated PM6:BTP-eC9 OSCs obtained a maximum PCE of 19.0%, which is among the highest values of blade-coated OSCs. Moreover, this morphology transformation also drives the photoactive layer toward the thermodynamic equilibrium state, reducing free volume in the photoactive layer and contributing to better device stabilities.

Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries hold great potential in the field of large-scale energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost of raw materials. However, the inherent low conductivity, notorious shuttling, and sluggish kinetics of cathode materials cause the loss of active substances and capacity delay, hindering the practical application of RT Na-S batteries. Owing to their low cost, variable oxidation states, and unsaturated d orbitals, transition metal (TM)-based catalysts have been extensively studied in circumventing the above shortcomings. Herein, the review first elaborates on the reaction mechanisms and current challenges of RT Na-S batteries. Subsequently, the role and function mechanism of TM-based catalysts (including single/dual atoms, nanoparticles, compounds, and heterostructures) in RT Na-S batteries are described. Specifically, based on the theories of electronic transfer and atomic orbital hybridization, the interaction mechanism between TM-based catalysts and polysulfides, as well as the catalytic performance, are systematically discussed and summarized. Finally, a discussion on the challenges and future research perspectives associated with TM-based catalysts for RT Na-S batteries is provided.

In recent years, a growing interest has settled for optical materials and fibers for the mid infrared (mid-IR) region. This interest originates from societal needs for health and environment for instance, and also from demand for defence applications. Indeed, the mid-IR spectral region contains the atmospheric transparent windows (3–5μm) and (8–12μm) where thermal imaging (military and civilian) can take place. The elaboration of chalcogenide microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) permits to combine the mid infrared transmission of chalcogenide glasses up to 18μm and the unique optical properties of MOFs thanks to the high degree of freedom in the design of their geometrical structure. In this context, additive manufacturing of glass materials appears as an attractive technique to achieve more elaborate designs that can hardly be obtained using more common methods such as the stack-and-draw or molding. Taking advantages of the specific physical properties of chalcogenide glasses such as low T_g and extrusion temperature, we have shown that chalcogenide preforms can be rapidly obtained by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using a customized RepRap-style 3D printed fed with chalcogenide glass rods. Such as-prepared preforms can be drawn into microstructured chalcogenide optical fibers.

In this study, 1393-B3 based borate bioactive glasses (BGs) undoped and doped with 1 wt% zinc (ZnBG), cerium (CeBG), or silver (AgBG) were prepared and were incorporated into gelatin/PCL (GEL/PCL) electrospun fibers for neural tissue engineering applications. Particle sizes of the prepared BGs were 3.1, 10.6, 14.6, and 3.7 µm for undoped BG, ZnBG, AgBG, and CeBG, respectively. Aligned electrospun fibers were prepared with 5 wt% of BG particles to produce 5BG/PCL/GEL, 5ZnBG/PCL/GEL, 5AgBG/PCL/GEL and 5CeBG/PCL/GEL fibers. Random 5CeBG/PCL/GEL fibers were also prepared for comparison. A rise in fiber diameter was measured for BG-incorporated fibers compared to PCL/GEL fibers. Mechanical tests on the fibers indicated ultimate tensile strength values of 1–3.5 MPa, the range of mechanical properties of neural tissue. Cell culture studies were carried out with the NG108-15 cell line. Cell alignment was observed on the electrospun fibers on day 2. On days 1 and 2, the optical density was higher for ZnBG/PCL/GEL, CeBG/PCL/GEL, and AgBG/PCL/GEL than for BG/PCL/GEL fibers. On day 4, undoped BG-containing nanofibers had higher optical density compared to those containing doped BGs. This result could be due to a slower release rate of boron from the pure BG/PCL/GEL fiber mat. Overall, within the studied range, all fiber mats were found to be suitable for neural tissue engineering in terms of neural cell compatibility and mechanical properties. In the future, a wider range of ion doping must be considered to fully comprehend the potential of such ion-releasing fibers for neural regeneration.Graphical

The viscosity of silicate melts is one of the most important physical properties for understanding high-temperature phenomena in magmatic systems and material processing. The effects of composition and temperature on viscosity have long been elucidated. Although iron ions are the main components of magmatic systems, their influence on viscosity remains unclear because the behavior of iron is complicated; iron ions have two redox states, Fe3+ and Fe2+. Here, we elucidate the viscosity of an iron-sodium-silicate system with a variety of iron redox states at temperatures close to its glass transition temperature (Tg). The redox states and structures of the samples were characterized using x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron x-ray total scattering, and density (molar volume) measurements. The viscosity increased (by more than four orders of magnitude) with an increase in the ratio of Fe3+ to total Fe (Fe3+/Fetot), whereas the temperature dependence of the viscosity was larger for glasses with a higher Fe3+/Fetot ratio at temperatures close to the glass transition temperature. The tendencies in viscosity and structural variation against the Fe3+/Fetot ratio support the consensus on the structural roles of Fe3+ and Fe2+ from previous studies: Fe3+ ions have a stronger tendency to behave as network formers than Fe2+ ions.

At first time a comprehensive investigation of properties of different types of filters protecting from electromagnetic (EM) radiation of to-date electronic devices for personal using – notebooks or laptops, mobile phones, WiFi devices, microwave ovens etc. has been performed for all components of EM pollution including electric and magnetic field strength and radiation power. The shielding filters were made by using different technologies including nanoparticles of transition metals implanted into glass, metal-plastic foils, glasses with different kinds of ITO coating. Values of the EM pollution reduction factors for different shielding filters types have been obtained that allow make recommendations for their practical application.