Microstructural study of Ag2S doped silver molybdate glass-nanocomposites

Glass-nanocomposites in the system Ag2S-Ag2O-MoO3 have been synthesized by quenching of melts. Microstructural studies of the samples have been accomplished using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The formation of glass-nanocomposites and the presence of different crystalline phases, namely alpha-Ag2MoO4, Ag2Mo2O7 and gamma-Ag2S dispersed throughout in the glassy matrix have been confirmed from these studies. The formation and growth of different nanocrystalline phases have been studied as a function of composition and heat-treatment time. The effects of variation of Ag2S content and heat-treatment on the local network structure within the glassy matrix have been explored using FT-IR spectroscopic study. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.