Spectral-luminescent properties of silver molecular clusters and nanoparticles formed by ion exchange in antimony-doped photo-thermo-refractive glasses

The formation of silver molecular clusters and nanoparticles in photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glasses with different antimony contents has been investigated using ion exchange with subsequent thermal treatment. The influence of the antimony oxide (Sb₂O₃) concentration and treatment temperature on the spectral-luminescent properties of silver molecular clusters and nanoparticles in glass has been investigated. It is shown that silver molecular clusters in PTR glasses are characterized by strong broadband luminescence in the visible and near-IR ranges and that the formation of silver nanoparticles leads to luminescence quenching.