Optical properties of the Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass system combined with TiO2 or Ag/TiO2

Lead-free Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass is a commonly synthesized glass system at low temperatures for coating applications for materials such as ceramic, glass, metal, etc. TiO2 or Ag/TiO2 composite are usually photocatalyst for antimicrobial application. In this study, TiO2 or Ag/TiO2 were combined with the Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass system by the TiO2 of rapid cooling of molten glass at 1200 degrees C. The influence of the TiO2 or Ag/TiO2 on the optical characteristics of the Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass system was performed by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy techniques. The analytical results showed that the band gap energy of the Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass system had a low value. The band gap energy of the system increased with the addition of TiO2 and decreased slightly with the addition of Ag/TiO2. In addition, when Ti2O or Ag/TiO2 were added, the glass system appeared crystals such as anatase, rutile and silver oxide on an amorphous background. These crystals cause the system's transmittance to decrease and reflectance to increase. However, the appearance of these crystals promises that Bi2O3 - B2O3 - ZnO glass materials can be applied as antibacterial materials. The antibacterial property is due to the photocatalytic effect of TiO2 and the ability to kill bacteria Ag2O.