Changes in the state of silver sol particles after low-temperature treatments

The influence of the low-temperature treatment of Ag hydrosol on the properties of silver particles was studied by electron absorption spectroscopy over the temperature range 77-230 K. Low-temperature treatment caused the aggregation of particles because of an increase in the number of defects on the surface of Ag observed as an increase in the damping coefficient of electron plasma oscillations. These processes depended on the temperature and initial concentration of disperse silver. Defect formation is explained taking into account the tunnel mechanism of the interaction of low-atomic mobile H +(H2O) n and OH-(H2O) n clusters with the surface of silver particles at low temperatures. © 2008 MAIK Nauka.