Photochromic materials via sol-gel process

Abstract

Powders and thin films of photochromic glasses containing AgBr or AgCl microcrystals were synthesized via sol-gel process. Up to 10 wt%, of Ag⁺, bonded with suitable complexing agents, were introduced into the matrix system consisting of xSiO₂-(1 - x)Al₂O₃ (x = 0.7... 1). After drying and heat treatment the AgX microcrystals (X = Cl, Br) were characterized by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution TEM. The photochromic properties were measured using a diode array UV-VIS spectrometer.