The structure and melting of a lead nanocrystalline layer in reduced lead-germanate glass

A surface layer of lead nanoclusters has been obtained by thermal treatment of Pb0.3Ge0.7O1.7 glass in hydrogen atmosphere. The thickness and structure of such layers depend heavily on the temperature and time of reduction. Structural studies of the lead layer have been performed with atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It has been shown that melting and solidification of lead nanoclusters induce a radical change in the surface conductivity of the reduced glass. Characteristic changes of melting and solidification temperature with Pb granules’ diameter have been found.