Xinhai Zhang

In this study, for the first time the diamagnetic 5 d ⁰ Ta ⁵⁺ ions and Ta ₂ O ₅ nanocrystals were utilized to enhance the thermal stability, optical linear and nonlinear, and Faraday rotation of diamagnetic glasses. Temperature‐dependent crystal morphology, phases, and structures of Ta ₂ O ₅ were studied and 50 nm spherical δ‐Ta ₂ O ₅ nanocrystal was obtained and shown decreased band gap of 3.68 eV. Transparent Ta ₂ O ₅ nanocrystal doped diamagnetic glasses were obtained, and the embedded Ta ₂ O ₅ nanocrystals have size ranging from 50 to 80 nm. EDX, XRD, FT‐IR, and Raman analysis indicated that Ta ₂ O ₅ partially dissolved into glass as TaO ₆ octahedral units, while partially residual as undissolved Ta ₂ O ₅ nanocrystals. Ta ⁵⁺ ions strengthened the network connectivity of 1%–5% Ta ₂ O ₅ ‐doped glasses, but Ta ⁵⁺ acted as network modifier in 10% doped sample and changed the frame coordination units of glass. Therefore, 1% and 5% Ta ₂ O ₅ ‐doped glasses showed high T _g and large thermal stability (107° and 120°). All Ta ₂ O ₅ ‐doped glasses exhibited broad and intense optical emission at 420 nm, excellent nonlinear refractive index (5.22 × 10 ⁻¹⁴ cm ² /W) and giant Verdet constant (56.19 rad/T·m) due to the increase in density, polarizability, and diamagnetic susceptibility by Ta ₂ O ₅ doping.

In this study, for the first time, diamagnetic 5d⁰ Ta⁵⁺ ions and Ta₂O₅ nanocrystals were utilized to enhance the structural, mechanical, magnetic, and radiation shielding of heavy metal oxide glasses. Transparent Ta₂O₅ nanocrystal-doped heavy metal oxide glasses were obtained, and the embedded Ta₂O₅ nanocrystals had sizes ranging from 20 to 30 nm. The structural analysis of the Ta₂O₅ nanocrystal displays the transformation from hexagonal to orthorhombic Ta₂O₅. Structures of doped glasses were studied through X-ray diffraction and infrared and Raman spectra, which reveal that Ta₂O₅ exists in highly doped glass as TaO₆ octahedral units, acting as a network modifier. Ta⁵⁺ ions strengthened the network connectivity of 1–5% Ta₂O₅-doped glasses, but Ta⁵⁺ acted as a network modifier in a 10% doped sample and changed the frame coordination units of the glass. All Ta₂O₅-doped glasses exhibited improved Vicker’s hardness, magnetization (9.53 × 10⁻⁶ emu/mol), and radiation shielding behaviors (RPE% = 96–98.8%, MAC = 32.012 cm²/g, MFP = 5.02 cm, HVL = 0.0035–3.322 cm, and Z_eff = 30.5) due to the increase in density and polarizability of the Ta₂O₅ nanocrystals.