Photochromic properties of silver complex oxides

Abstract
Photosensitivity and heat bleaching property were quantitatively investigated for 23 silver complex oxides which contain B, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Hg, and Pb as constituent elements. Almost all the synthesized compounds are photosensitive to visible light. Light energy necessary to darken the oxides is distributed in a wide range, from 10 mJ/cm2 to more than 1 kJ/cm2. It was found that nine oxides show good photochromic properties and four oxides among them have sensitivity to near-infrared light. The photosensitive spectral range is discussed on the basis of electronegativity of atomic groups around silver ions.