Investigation of silver centres in glassy B2O3

B₂O₃ samples with silver impurities, X-ray irradiated at 77 K and then heated to 300 K, exhibit the presence of Ag⁺₂ molecular ions. It has been found that formation of Ag⁺₂ centres occurs with the participation of neutral silver atoms according to the reaction Ag⁰ + Ag⁺ → Ag⁺₂. The EPR spectra of Ag⁺₂ have been investigated and the parameters of the spin Hamiltonian have been determined. Under the action of light, λ = 390 nm, the Ag⁺₂ centres were observed to undergo photochemical decomposition into Ag⁰ atoms and Ag⁺ ions.The EPR spectra of Ag⁰ atoms have also been studied in great detail. The effect of light irradiation and temperature variation on the properties of these atoms has been investigated.