Spectral and photocatalytic properties of Ag-AgCl nanostructures formed on surface of silicate glass by ion exchange

In this work, the spectral and photocatalytic properties of 3 silicate glasses with different chlorine concentrations from 0.5 to 1 mol. % were studied. Since photocatalysts require the presence of nanostructures on the glass surface,  silver was introduced into silicate glass with chlorine by low-temperature Na⁺-Ag⁺ ion exchange. The synthesis of Ag-AgCl nanostructures occurred during heat treatment, after which a plasmonic absorption band in the visible range  of the spectrum was revealed in the absorption spectra. The degree of decomposition of the aqueous solution of methyl orange dye increased from 80 to 92% with increasing chlorine concentration in the photocatalyst with Ag-AgCl  nanostructures. Note that with increasing chlorine concentration, the concentration of nanostructures increases.