Organic Ag–Hg amalgam composite materials

Amalgams doped with organic molecules represent a new type of triple composite, organics@Ag–Hg. Synthetic procedures involving the dissolution of doped silver in Hg were developed. A detailed study of structure evolution and its dynamics was carried out following the intermediate phases γ-Ag–Hg and ζ-Ag–Hg, and the Ag–Hg solid solution. Three dopants – the dye Congo red (CR), the polymer Nafion and the antibacterial agent chlorhexidine (CH) – were used, indicating the generality of the approach. Detailed release studies of CR served as an additional analytical tool for inspecting the structure dynamics in the forming doped amalgams. Applications, such as for the CH@Ag–Hg amalgam, are pointed out.