Gel Synthesis and Crystallization of Li2O.3GeO2 Glass Powders

Li2O.3GeO2 gel was synthesized by the hydrolytic polycondensation of germanium ethoxide with lithium methoxide. The crystallization behaviour of the gel, examined by differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction, is reported and discussed. The phases crystallizing from the gel were identified as Li2GeO3, Li2Ge4O9 and GeO2. The activation energy for the crystallization was found to be 562 kJ mol-1. The results were also compared with those obtained for the conventional glass of the same composition