The influence of synthesis conditions and ultraviolet irradiation on the morphology and concentration of silver nanocrystals in photo-thermo-refractive glasses

摘要

It is shown experimentally that the morphology and ultraviolet irradiation dose required for the formation of silver nanocrystals in photo-thermo-refractive glasses on ultraviolet irradiation and subsequent heat treatment depends substantially on the concentration of nucleation centers. In turn, this concentration is predetermined by the material of the crucible used for glass synthesis. For a glass sample synthesised in a silica crucible and containing a small number of the nucleation centres, cubic nanocrystal formation occurs after an ultraviolet irradiation dose of no more than 2.3 J/cm(2) and spherical nanocrystal formation occurs after ultraviolet irradiation dose exceeding 2.3 J/cm(2). For a glass sample synthesised in a platinum crucible and containing an increased number of nucleation centers, mostly spherical nanocrystal formation occurs after an irradiation dose of 23.0 J/cm(2).