Manufacturing glass ceramic materials comprises ceramming a glass to grow a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles having a formula M.sub.xWO.sub.3, where M includes a dopant cation, and where 0<x<1.

Manufacturing glass ceramic materials comprises ceramming a glass to grow a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles having a formula M.sub.xWO.sub.3, where M includes a dopant cation, and where 0<x<1.

A joint joins an alloy member to a ceramic member via a glass joining agent, which is joined to the alloy member by a material bonded joint and to the ceramic member by a further material bonded joint. The glass joining agent is made of a glass having a melting point below 800° C.; a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and a bismuth content of at least 10%. The alloy member has a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The ceramic member has a maximum coefficient of thermal expansion of 8-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The material bonded joint defines a mixing region that is a partial region of the ceramic member, and the bismuth content in the mixing region is higher than that of the ceramic member outside the mixing region.

A composition comprising glass containing both trivalent cerium oxide and tetravalent cerium oxide states nano particles. A soluble sodium borate glass comprising cerium oxide that is stable against crystallizations, the cerium oxide comprising both trivalent Ce.sup.3+ (Ce.sub.2O.sub.3) and tetravalent Ce.sup.4+ (CeO.sub.2) states, wherein the cerium oxide nano particles are configured to be released when the glass is dissolved.

A composition comprising glass containing both trivalent cerium oxide and tetravalent cerium oxide states nano particles. A soluble sodium borate glass comprising cerium oxide that is stable against crystallizations, the cerium oxide comprising both trivalent Ce.sup.3+ (Ce.sub.2O.sub.3) and tetravalent Ce.sup.4+ (CeO.sub.2) states, wherein the cerium oxide nano particles are configured to be released when the glass is dissolved.

Al.sub.2O.sub.3— rich compositions with desirable hardness and crack resistance for various functional applications. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the composition into various dimensions and shapes under a temperature much lower than in conventional methods.

Al.sub.2O.sub.3— rich compositions with desirable hardness and crack resistance for various functional applications. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the composition into various dimensions and shapes under a temperature much lower than in conventional methods.

A glass includes a first glass portion and a second glass portion. The first glass portion has a higher ion packing density than the second glass portion (has a composition that forms a glass in which, out of plastic deformation characteristics, plastic flow is dominant). The second glass has a lower ion packing density than the first glass portion (has a composition that forms a glass in which, out of the plastic deformation characteristics, densification is dominant).

A joint joins an alloy member to a ceramic member via a glass joining agent, which is joined to the alloy member by a material bonded joint and to the ceramic member by a further material bonded joint. The glass joining agent is made of a glass having a melting point below 800° C.; a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and a bismuth content of at least 10%. The alloy member has a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The ceramic member has a maximum coefficient of thermal expansion of 8-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The material bonded joint defines a mixing region that is a partial region of the ceramic member, and the bismuth content in the mixing region is higher than that of the ceramic member outside the mixing region.

Optically transparent glass ceramic materials comprising a glass phase containing and a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles and having the formula M.sub.xWO.sub.3, where M includes at least one H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cu, Ag, Sn, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and U, and where 0<x<1. Aluminosilicate and zinc-bismuth-borate glasses comprising at least one of Sm.sub.2O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2O.sub.3, and Er.sub.2O.sub.3 are also provided.