A transparent glass-ceramic materials contains a spinel solid solution as the main crystalline phase and is free of As2O3 and Sb2O3. Corresponding precursor alumino-silicate glasses, articles made of said transparent glass-ceramic materials as well as a method for manufacturing such articles, and structures comprising a sheet made of such glass-ceramic materials and electronic or optoelectronic devices comprising such structures are also disclosed. Some materials disclosed can be used as substrates for high temperature growth of high quality monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon thin films. Structures including such substrates with such thin films thereon can be used in photovoltaic devices, flat panel devices and liquid crystal devices.