Application and Properties of Co²⁺-Doped BaAl₂Si₂O₈ Blue Pigments in Glazes

Abstract

Blue pigments and blue glazes play crucial roles in our daily life. Ongoing research into blue pigments aims at environmentally friendly compositions with a lower cost. In this work, Co-doped BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 pigments were synthesized by a solid-state method. The blue color of the pigments is due to the 4 A 2 ( 4 F) → 4 T 1 ( 4 P) transitions allowed by doped Co 2+ in the tetrahedral coordination of the structure. The pigments exhibit excellent stability under both acidic and alkaline conditions. When combined with transparent glazes, BaAl 2– x Co x Si 2 O 8 demonstrates satisfied compatibility, resulting in blue glazes with a significant reduction in Co content compared with existing formulations. Furthermore, BaAl 2– x Co x Si 2 O 8 blue glazes possess a simple production route, commendable color performance, and cost-effectiveness.