Reversible control of silver nanoparticle generation and dissolution in soda-lime silicate glass through x-ray irradiation and heat treatment

Reversible generation and dissolution of 3 nm silver particles in a glass c ontaining only silver ions are repeatedly achieved through a combination of x-ray radiation and heat treatment. X-ray irradiation and 400 degreesC hea t treatment induce a yellow color, whereas heating at 500 degreesC can chan ge the glass to colorless again. X-ray irradiation produces large amounts o f silver atoms and defects, mainly nonbridging oxygen hole centers (NBOs), in glass. Heating at 400 degreesC accelerates the aggregation of silver ato ms into forming silver particles. The NBOs can continuously oxidize the sil ver atoms of particles into silver ions at higher temperature, leading to d issolution of the silver particles. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.