Nanoscale phase separation in Ag-Ge-Se glasses

We have investigated the materials formed by Ag photodiffusion in Se-rich Ge-Se thin glass films. The amount of Ag that can be incorporated by this method saturates at a level dependent on the quantity of Se in the starting glass. The photodiffused Ag reacts with the Se to form distinct Ag2Se and Ge-rich backbone phases as determined by Raman and XRD analyses. The conducting Ag2Se phases exist as nano-crystals with a size in the order of 2 nm in the backbone structure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.