Growth of α-AgI Nanocrystals and β-AgI Nanowires in Superionic Selenite Glasses

We have reported the formation of the α-AgI nanocrystals in the xAgI−(1 − x)(0.5Ag₂O−0.5SeO₂) glass nanocomposite and β-AgI nanowires along with α-AgI nanocrystals in the heat-treated compositions. We have used X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies to detect these nanophases. It is observed that α-AgI nanocrystals and β-AgI nanowires control the glass transition and the crystallization temperatures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies have revealed the presence of the SeO²⁻ ₃ and SeO²⁻ ₄ structural units in the as-prepared samples as well as in the heat-treated samples. It is also observed that the position of the different infrared bands is independent of the AgI content in the compositions.