Gemini 300 microscope

Each powdered glass sample was set to undergo the same heat treatment process as the DTA test in a routine furnace to prepare the corresponding crystallized samples for further identification of the crystals. The above obtained DTA curves of 10 °C/min were used as the reference. Each powdered glass sample was heated from 30 °C to the end temperature of the exothermic peak, and then, quenched by air. The heating rate of this process was 10 °C/min. The crystals in these heat-treated samples were tested first via XRD. The morphology and phase composition were tested using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). All of the crystallized samples were divided into two parts. One part was ground into powder to undergo XRD measurement using an X’Pert PRO MPD X-ray diffractometer. The other part was used to prepare the SEM sample by being embedded with resin and polished to expose the cross-section. After being coated with Pt, this sample was used to perform an SEM-EDS test to analyze the crystal phases’ composition and morphology. The SEM-EDS tests were carried out using a Gemini 300 microscope manufactured by Zeiss matching an EDS (model: Ultim MAX, OXFORD).

Scanning electron microscopy was performed using a Zeiss Gemini 300 microscope at a voltage of 3 kV. Transmission electron microscopy was conducted on a Hitachi HT 7700 operating at 120 kV. Powder X-ray diffraction characterization was carried out using a Bruker D8 Advance X-ray diffractometer with Cu Kα radiation. Photoluminescence emission profiles and decay curves were obtained using an FSL-1000 (Edinburgh Instruments Ltd.). PLQY measurements were performed on a C9920-02G system (Hamamatsu). Radioluminescence emission profiles were acquired using an Edinburgh FS5 fluorescence spectrophotometer (Edinburgh Instruments Ltd.), equipped with an external miniature X-ray source from AMPEK, Inc.

For the degradation evaluation, VMT NSs (100 mg) were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 10 mL, pH = 7.4) for 7 days, and the supernatant liquid was collected and exchanged at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days. Similarly, the composite scaffolds with an average area of 2.5 × 5 cm² were sealed in PBS solution (10 mL, pH = 7.4) for 14 days, and the mixture solutions were withdrawn and refreshed at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days. All samples were incubated at 37 °C in a shaker at a speed of 100 rpm. The supernatant was assayed by ICP for Mg and Si elemental concentration analysis, and the morphological changes of composite scaffolds were observed by SEM (Zeiss Gemini 300 microscope).