Structural properties of Ag-As-S chalcogenide glasses in phase separation region and their application in holographic grating recording

In this paper we focus on structural properties of As₂S₃-Ag glasses in phase separation region (Ag content: 0, 5, 7 at. %) using XRD technique and Raman spectroscopy and report on some application of studied glasses. X-ray diffraction experiments confirm amorphous structure of glasses. Pair distribution functions have been obtained and analyzed, and they have testified about changes in the radius of the first coordination sphere after introduction of silver into As₂S₃. The changes of the structure can be observed from obtained Raman spectra of doped As₂S₃: Ag. Compositional changes in studied chalcogenide glasses were observed in the evolution of the detected Raman bands. The main effect that is observed at introduction of silver (5, 7 at. %) into nanostructured As₂S₃ glass is the change of the relative concentration of the main and non-stoichiometric molecular structural units. As₂S₃-Ag glasses are promising for application in the photonics and optical data storages. Surface relief holographic diffraction gratings were directly recorded using composite As₂S₃: Ag/Se nano-multilayered structures. Diffraction efficiency values in transmission of recorded gratings is 22%.