Low temperature devitrification of Ag/SiO2 and Ag(CuO)/SiO2 composites

Composites materials formed by CuO, Ag, and Ag + CuO clusters embedded in SiO2 xerogels were prepared. The prepared samples were annealed in air at different temperatures. By using IR absorption and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) the sample structure was studied. It was found that the embedded species and the heat treatments modify strongly the SiO2 structure. The appropriate metal inclusions can lead to a relative low temperature form of cristobalite and quartz.