Nanometre-sized Silver Halides Entrapped in SiO₂ Matrices

The formation of nanocrystals after implantation of silver
alone as well as together with the halogen ions Cl, Br, and I into a SiO2
layer of about 100 nm was studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission
electron microscopy. The co-implantation of Ag and Cl/Br results in the
formation of cubic AgX-crystals which are stable in size under annealing.
The co-implantation of Ag and I as well as single Ag implantation result
in Ag crystallites, which grow under annealing. The annealing procedure
causes a redistribution of the particles within the layer.