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Research Progress in the Structure and Properties of Novel Functional Glasses

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced and Functional Ceramics and Glasses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2026 | Viewed by 2349

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica Bucharest—UPB, 313 Splaiul Independenței, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: glass; ceramics; thin films; sol–gel; magnetron sputtering; glass ceramics; biomaterials; photonic materials; nanomaterials; spin coating
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, glass is gaining increased interest due to the potential collapse of the plastics industry. In particular, the new functionalities of glass are of special interest to scientists and technology groups.

Some new types of functional glass have been investigated thus far, including functional glass for lasers, novel functional glass fibres, functional glass for visible optics, functional infrared glass lenses, functional glass microspheres for Whispering Gallery Mode lasers and resonators, functional glass and glass–ceramic biocoatings and/or implants, functional oxide and non-oxide glass for space applications, and functional glass–graphene fibres. Investigations have also been conducted on novel functional thin films for metallic glasses with a dual-phase structure and novel multi-doped functional glasses with magnetic properties.

Well-known methods of investigating the structure and properties of such functional glasses include UV-Vis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM. Newer methods are also used, such as the combined mathematical–spectroscopic technique and single-pulse laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (single-pulse LA-ICP-TOFMS).

The list of novel functional glasses is constantly growing, with new challenges arising each year. These challenges are leading to the development of new dedicated structures, dual glasses, and functionalities, as well as new methods of investigation based on these new types of glass. This is the main reason for establishing this Special Issue, and we hope that new information and papers on this subject will be published very soon.

Prof. Dr. Bogdan Alexandru Sava
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional glass
  • structure of glass
  • SEM
  • TEM
  • FTIR
  • Raman
  • special properties

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 621 KB  
Communication
Samarium-Doped Lead Phosphate Glass: Optical Experiments and Calculations Using the Judd–Ofelt Theory
by Joanna Pisarska and Wojciech A. Pisarski
Materials 2025, 18(22), 5254; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18225254 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 845
Abstract
In this work, Sm3+-activated lead phosphate glass has been studied using spectroscopic methods. Based on absorption spectrum measurements, the oscillator strengths for Sm3+ ions were determined and compared to those calculated from the Judd–Ofelt theory. This procedure was applied to [...] Read more.
In this work, Sm3+-activated lead phosphate glass has been studied using spectroscopic methods. Based on absorption spectrum measurements, the oscillator strengths for Sm3+ ions were determined and compared to those calculated from the Judd–Ofelt theory. This procedure was applied to evaluate some radiative parameters (radiative transition rates, emission branching ratios, radiative lifetime) of Sm3+ ions in lead phosphate glass. Further luminescent studies indicate that lead phosphate glass doped with Sm3+ emits intense reddish-orange light due to 4G5/26H7/2 transition, for which several important spectroscopic parameters like emission linewidth and lifetime, quantum efficiency, peak stimulated emission cross-section, and figure of merit for laser gain were determined. The factors for Sm3+ ions in lead phosphate glass are as follows: η = 53%, FWHM = 10.5 nm, τexp = 1.925 ms, σem = 7.6 × 10−22 cm2, σem × τexp = 14.6 × 10−25 cm2s. The experimental and theoretical results suggest that samarium-doped lead phosphate glass can be successfully used as a reddish-orange-emitting component in photonic devices. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 5151 KB  
Review
Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses: A Review on Structure-Directing-Based Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications
by Adriana Vulpoi and Ioan Botiz
Materials 2026, 19(5), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19050876 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 525
Abstract
Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) represent a significant advancement in bioactive glass technology, combining the well-established osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties of traditional bioactive glasses with the structural precision provided by highly ordered mesoporosity. Their characteristic architecture, defined by uniform pores typically ranging from a [...] Read more.
Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) represent a significant advancement in bioactive glass technology, combining the well-established osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties of traditional bioactive glasses with the structural precision provided by highly ordered mesoporosity. Their characteristic architecture, defined by uniform pores typically ranging from a few to several tens of nanometers and exceptionally high surface areas reaching several hundred m2/g, enables enhanced drug-loading capacity, controlled therapeutic ion release, and accelerated tissue regeneration. In this work, we emphasize how the synthesis of these materials is predominantly governed by structure-directing agents, which critically influence the pore size, mesophase ordering, surface area, and structural stability. Additionally, we discuss how compositional tailoring, particularly through therapeutic ion doping with elements such as Sr, Cu, Zn, or B, can impart osteogenic, angiogenic, antibacterial, or antioxidant functionalities. Moreover, we illustrate how these functionalities can be further expanded and enhanced by employing a comprehensive suite of characterization tools to establish robust correlations between synthesis parameters, mesostructural features, and biological performance. Improving the above functionalities enables the MBGs to exhibit exceptional versatility across biomedical applications, notably in bone tissue engineering (as hierarchical or composite scaffolds), controlled drug delivery (anticancer, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory agents), wound healing, dental therapy, and bioactive implant coatings. Finally, we acknowledge that despite their broad potential, several associated challenges remain, including the synthesis scalability, batch-to-batch reproducibility, mechanical fragility of pure MBGs, and the complexity of predicting in vivo degradation and ion-release behaviors. We believe that emerging research directions, including eco-friendly synthesis routes, stimuli-responsive smart MBGs, multifunctional theranostic platforms, and patient-specific additive manufacturing, are poised to overcome current limitations and drive the next generation of MBG-based biomedical technologies. Full article
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60 pages, 4135 KB  
Review
Packaging Glasses: From Containers to Encapsulation Composition, Performance, and Sustainability Pathways
by Leonardo Pagnotta
Materials 2026, 19(3), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030506 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 665
Abstract
This review synthesizes four decades of scientific and industrial developments in packaging glass, integrating structural, technological, and sustainability perspectives. Glass remains the benchmark material for inert, transparent, and fully recyclable containment, yet its scope has expanded from conventional bottles and vials to advanced [...] Read more.
This review synthesizes four decades of scientific and industrial developments in packaging glass, integrating structural, technological, and sustainability perspectives. Glass remains the benchmark material for inert, transparent, and fully recyclable containment, yet its scope has expanded from conventional bottles and vials to advanced functional and electronic encapsulation. Packaging glasses are classified into five main families—soda–lime, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, recycled (cullet-rich), and functional/electronic—and compared across key domains: mechanical, thermal, chemical, optical, barrier, and hermetic. Quantitative tables and normalized diagrams illustrate how compositional and processing trends govern structure, processability, and performance. Advances in forming, surface engineering, and melting practice are analyzed for their contributions to lightweighting, durability, and decarbonization. Sustainability is addressed through cullet utilization, energy demand, life-cycle indicators, and regulatory alignment, defining pathways toward circular and low-carbon production. Overall, packaging glass emerges as a circular, chemically stable, and traceable material system, while advances in high-integrity glass formulations now support hermetic encapsulation for diagnostic, electronic, and energy devices. Full article
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