Structure and properties of silver phosphate glasses — Infrared and visible spectra

The infrared and visible spectra of glasses in the Ag₂OP₂O₅ glass-forming system were obtained. The infrared data were interpreted as indicating the presence of polymeric chains in these glasses. The partial covalent nature of the AgOP bond was discussed. A mixed NaPO₃AgPO₃ glass showed no unexpected bands in the infrared spectrum, again showing that silver is behaving in a manner similar to alkali metal ions in phosphate glasses. The shift in the absorption edge in the visible spectra of glasses of different Ag/P ratio was shown to arise from either an increase in the concentration of nonbridging oxygens with increasing silver content, or the presence of colloidal silver metal particles.