ñ ÙÝûĘ ćïĨΞêďñÁӡ įಓ ਆள í স ( 563-8577 ز 1-8-31 ಓ ŀ 557-0063 ϥ ০Aʥ 6-3-6Silver was introduced into borosilicate glass by a classical staining process under varying conditions of temperature and time. The spectroscopic features of the stained glasses were examined by studying absorption, photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance properties. The diffusion parameters diffusion coefficient and diffusion activation energy of silver ions were calculated based on elemental analysis data from an inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometry, and from line scan profiles from energy dispersion X-ray analysis EDX . Key-words : Glass staining, Ion-exchange, Silver stain, Diffusion parameters, Spectroscopic properties 1. Introduction Staining is a well-known method for producing coloration in glasses.1 ,2 It is usually performed by applying a silver or copper paste to glass substrates. The substrates are then heattreated at a temperature usually lower than the glass transition temperature. In the staining process, metal ions contained in the paste replace alkaline ions present on the glass surface, and migrate inside the glass, usually followed by a redox reaction of metal ions in glass andor aggregation of metal atoms.3 ,4 These metal ions, atoms or nanoparticles exhibit one or more properties of strong visible absorption, photoluminescence and nonlinear optical response.5 -11 Therefore, staining process can be used to fabricate metal-doped glasses with applications in disk optical data storage, light waveguides, microlenses and all-optical switches. Since the first step in the staining process is the same as the process known as conventional ion exchange using molten salts, it can also be used for the study of ion diffusion properties.Previously, we have conducted a systematic investigation on silver-stained soda-lime silicate glasses.12 We found that silver was heavily doped into soda-lime silicate glass by a staining process, and that the staining process was controlled by the diffusion of silver ions in glass. The incorporated silver existed in Ag , Ag 0 and Ag