Structure and spectral properties of the silver-containing high-silica glasses

Abstract

Silver-containing high-silica glasses were synthesized by an impregnation of the silica porous glasses (PGs) first with AgNO3 aqueous solution (with or without the presence of the sensitizers, such as Cu(NO3)2 or Ce(NO3)3), next in the mixed halide salt (NH4Cl, KBr, KI) solution. Then some part of the samples was sintered at the temperatures from 850 to 900°C up to closing of the pores. The structure of glasses was studied by UV-VIS-NIR and IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. According to XRD data the silver-containing high-silica glasses contain the AgBr, AgI, Ag3PO4, (CuBr)0.75(CuI)0.25 phases. IR spectra confirmed B-O-B, Si- O-Si, P-O-P, O-P-O, O-B-O bonds, (PO4)3- and P-O- groups in glasses.