In-Situ Formation of AgCl Nanocrystallites in Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel and Silver Nanoparticles in Silica Glass Films

We are reporting on a novel preparation of silver chloride in sol-gel silica films as a precursor for nanoparticles of silver. The precipitation 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 films was demonstrated by X-rays Diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays (SEM-EDAX). The resulting films are of good optical quality and exhibit a strong coloration upon irradiation with sunlight or heating to 600°C, due to the reduction of AgCl to silver nanoparticles. The absorption spectra of the films before and after irradiation are shown.