A series of novel transparent and amorphous spheres (1-x)LaGaO3-xNb(2)O(5)(x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.625, 0.650, 0.675) with high refractive indices were successfully synthesized through containerless solidification. In the range of 0 <= x <= 0.675, transparent samples diametered about 2-4 mm were produced. The glass transition temperature T-g and the crystal onset temperature T-x first rose and then reduced with rising x. The difference between T-g and T-x was Delta T = T-x- T-g. The Delta T curve exhibited two peaks at x = 0.2 and x = 0.6, with the maximum Delta T values of approximately 107 degrees C and 108 degrees C respectively. The refractive indices of the fabricated amorphous materials ranged from 2.00 to 2.45 with increasing x from 0.1 to 0.675 in the visible light range. The transmittances ranged from 82% to 71% with increasing x from 0 to 0.5 in the visible light range. Raman scattering spectra showed that the maximum phonon energy increased from 782 cm(-1) to 815 cm(-1 )with rising x from 0 to 0.5. The as-prepared amorphous materials pave the way for developing novel optical components.

amorphous (1-x)LaGaO3-xNb2O5 spheres; containerless solidification; transparent; high refractive indices

Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology; Northeastern University