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

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.