Part I: lithium metasilicate (Li2SiO3)—mild condition hydrothermal synthesis, characterization, and optical properties

Abstract

Using LiNO3 and SiO2 as raw materials, Li2SiO3 nano-powders were synthesized via a nonstoichiometric 2:3 Li:Si molar ratio hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C for 48, 72, and 96 h in a NaOH aqueous solution system. The synthesized materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction technique and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. To investigate the effect of the reaction time on the morphology of the obtained materials, the morphologies of the synthesized materials were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy technique. The technique showed that on increasing the reaction time, the morphology of the as-prepared samples changed from belt structures to flower structures. Ultraviolet–Visible spectra analyses showed that the nanostructured lithium silicate powders had good light absorption properties in the ultraviolet light region. Also, photo luminescence spectra and cell parameter refinement of the obtained materials were studied.