Effect of silica precursor on the synthesis of Zn2SiO4-based material

The synthesis of zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) powders via the solid-state method was studied using amorphous and crystalline silica precursors. This work explores the impact of reaction temperature (700–1300 °C) on phase evolution and microstructural changes. A comprehensive characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a progression from unreacted precursors at lower temperatures to a mixed-phase composition (α-Zn2SiO4 and β-Zn2SiO4) at intermediate temperatures, ultimately resulting in a single-phase α-Zn2SiO4 at 1300 °C. Notably, Raman spectroscopy detected the presence of the metastable β-Zn2SiO4 phase. Morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the important role of precursor type and reaction conditions on particle characteristics: crystalline silica yielded larger, more uniform particles, while amorphous silica promoted the formation of spherical Zn2SiO4 particles with an average diameter of approximately 1 μm. These findings are of significant interest for tailoring the properties of Zn2SiO4 ceramics to be used for advanced applications in optoelectronics and luminescence technologies.