Nano-composite soda lime silicate glass prepared using silver ion exchange

Commercial soda lime silicate glasses have been subjected to ion exchange at different temperatures ranging from 320 to 500 °C in a molten mixture of AgNO₃ and NaNO₃ with molar ratio of 10:90, 02:98 and 50:50 for different time periods ranging from 40 to 180 min. Optical and structural properties of the ion exchanged glass are measured using UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Signature of silver nanoparticle formation is obtained from the UV–Vis–NIR spectra, which shows a peak at 425 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Replacement of Na⁺ ions by Ag⁺ ions is inferred from FTIR spectra. Fluorescence spectra reveal the formation of Ag⁰ atoms from Ag⁺ ions at higher temperatures. TEM image shows the silver nanoparticles of average size 3.75 nm. At exchange temperature of 500 °C Ag nanoparticles are formed without post-exchange annealing treatment.