Progress and outlook of ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar glass-ceramics for multi-catalytic applications

Glass-ceramics have been long recognized for their capability to offer shared characteristics of both glassy as well as crystalline phases. By controlling volume fraction of crystalline phase dispersed in glassy matrix, the properties of glass-ceramics can be tuned for variety of applications such as dental implants , heat-resistant cooking ware, missiles nozzle cones, etc. A specific family of glass-ceramics that consists of ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar crystallites offers second-harmonic generation, pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties for actuators, sensors, non-linear optical devices, and lasers applications, that were traditionally not possible in glassy materials. Fabrication, crystallization behavior, and electrical properties of such glass-ceramics have been extensively studied in the last decade and widely reviewed in multiple documents in the literature. Recently, the presence of ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar crystallites in glasses unveils the new environmental applications of glass-ceramics using photocatalysis , piezocatalysis, and tribocatalysis processes stimulated by light, mechanical, and frictional energy, respectively. Ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar glass-ceramics for multi-catalysis is relatively a new and emerging area, that have potential to provide solution for real-environmental problems such as water-pollution. Thus, this review provides a comprehensive overview of multi-catalytic nature of ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar glass-ceramics. It discusses the underlying catalytic mechanisms and unveils the performance of these glass-ceramics in environmental applications. It highlights the advantages and challenges of ferroelectric/non-ferroelectric polar glass-ceramics as photo/piezo/tribocatalysts. This review will motivate glass researchers to work in the area of environmental applications of glass-ceramics using catalytic processes.