Lead–germanate glasses: an easy growth process for silver nanoparticles and their promising applications in photonics and catalysis

Abstract

In this study, we report non-conventional silver nanoparticle growth on the surface of lead-germanate oxide glasses. Thermal annealing at around the glass transition temperature (T g ) under a nitrogen atmosphere enables the growth of silver thin films on the glass surface. The nanoparticle growth was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy as a function of the annealing time. The characteristic temperatures were obtained by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the influence of the Ag + ion content on the glass stability (GS) parameters was evaluated. Additionally, the apparent activation energy of crystallization (E) was calculated. The silver thin films obtained after different annealing times were applied as a substrate for luminescence enhancement of the Eu(btfa) 3 $bipy rare earth europium complex. The catalytic activity of the Ag-doped glasses was tested for the reduction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH 4 . The catalytic performance of the unannealed glass demonstrated an unexpected good efficiency compared with the annealed glass samples.

Self-supported nickel nanoparticles on germanophosphate glasses: synthesis and applications in catalysis

“…In contrast to germanophosphate matrix, the growth of silver nanostructures can be carried out in lead-germanate glasses under a nitrogen atmosphere. 8 On the other hand, the negative point of leadgermanate glasses is that they have heavy-metal in their matrix. Fig.…”

“…We have also evaluated their performance in catalysis, Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), and antibacterial applications. [5][6][7][8][9] Phosphate-based glasses can be obtained at relatively low temperature by melt-quenching technique using affordable chemical reagents (e.g., KH 2 PO 4 , P 2 O 5 , NaPO 3 or NaH 2 PO 4 ). In addition, this type of glass becomes even more interesting because it can be easily doped with transition metal ions, alkali, and rare earth oxides to provide the desired physical and/or chemical characteristics.…”

Nanocomposite Antimony-Germanate-Borate Glass Fibers Doped with Eu3+ Ions with Self-Assembling Silver Nanoparticles for Photonic Applications

“…Moreover, in glass co-doped with 0.6 mol.% AgNO 3 /0.2 mol.% Eu 2 O 3 , both signals-excitation and emission-slightly increased. This could be explained by the mirror effect corresponding with self-assembling of silver nanoparticles on the glass surface [32].…”

“…Moreover, in glass co-doped with 0.6 mol.% AgNO3/0.2 mol.% Eu2O3, both signals-excitation and emission-slightly increased. This could be explained by the mirror effect corresponding with self-assembling of silver nanoparticles on the glass surface [32]. Antimony-germanate-borate SGB glass characterized by highest emission intensity at the wavelength of 616 nm (SGB_01Ag02Eu) was selected to analyze the influence of additional annealing on luminescence properties of europium ions.…”

“…Schneider et. all obtained silver film on the surface of lead-germanate glass by thermal-treatment at close to the glass transition temperature [32]. The self-assembled silver films were created by the bottom-up process [33].…”