Photo-induced and controlled synthesis of silver nanocluster in soda-lime silicate glass

Silver nanocluster formation and dissolution in soda-lime silicate glass were achieved after X-ray irradiation followed by annealing. The X-ray irradiation induced holes and electrons in the glass structure, subsequently silver ions doped in glass trapped electrons to form silver atoms, which diffused and then aggregated to form nanoclusters at 420∘C. Silver nanoclusters were formed with a mean size of about 4 nm after heating at 420∘C for 1 h, while they decreased to about 2 nm after heating at 420∘C for 48 h. The dissolution of silver nanoclusters at an elevated temperature was attributed to defects trapping electrons from silver atoms.