M. Zayat et al., IN-SITU FORMATION OF AGCL NANOCRYSTALLITES IN FILMS PREPARED BY THE SOL-GEL AND SILVER NANOPARTICLES IN SILICA GLASS-FILMS, JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 10(1), 1997, pp. 67-74
We are reporting on a novel preparation of silver chloride in sol-gel
silica films as a precursor for nanoparticles of silver. The precipita
tion of silver chloride particles in-situ was achieved by the reaction
of silver nitrate with trichloroacetic acid. The reaction leads to a
slow release of chloride leading to a controlled precipitation of AgCl
. The existence of an isotropic crystalline AgCl phase in the glass fi
lms was demonstrated by X-rays Diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Scanning
Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays (SEM-EDA
X). The resulting films are of good optical quality and exhibit a stro
ng coloration upon irradiation with sunlight or heating to 600 degrees
C, due to the reduction of AgCl to silver nanoparticles. The absorpti
on spectra of the films before and after irradiation are shown.