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The development of ultrafast scintillators is critical to the GHz X‐ray and time‐of‐flight (TOF) imaging techniques. Low‐dimensional silver‐based halides have emerged as promising candidates due to high radioluminescence efficiency and ultrafast decay time. However, the ultrafast scintillation mechanism in silver‐based halides, such as Rb2AgBr3 (RAB), remains controversial. Here, the study reveals the origin of ultrafast scintillation timing response in melt‐grown RAB bulk crystals. The RAB shows light‐yellow emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 13.9%. Under the picosecond (ps) pulse X‐ray irradiation, RAB has an ultrafast decay time of 3.2 ns that accounts for 40.5% of the total emitted light. The light yield is estimated as 3100 photons MeV−1 under 22Na irradiation. Based on the temperature‐dependent radioluminescence (RL) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and spectrally resolved thermally‐stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curves, it is confirmed that the bromine vacancy as the F‐center is the origin of the ultrafast scintillation component. These findings provide elaborated and fundamental insights into the ultrafast luminescent mechanisms of low‐dimensional silver‐based halides, thereby opening up new design horizons in the development of ultrafast scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bidirectional migration of halides and silver causes irreversible chemical corrosion to the electrodes and perovskite layer, affecting long-term operation stability of perovskite solar cells. Here we propose a silver coordination-induced n-doping of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester strategy to safeguard Ag electrode against corrosion and impede the migration of iodine within the PSCs. Meanwhile, the coordination between DCBP and silver induces n-doping in the PCBM layer, accelerating electron extraction from the perovskite layer. The resultant PSCs demonstrate an efficiency of 26.03% (certified 25.51%) with a minimal non-radiative voltage loss of 126 mV. The PCE of resulting devices retain 95% of their initial value after 2500 h of continuous maximum power point tracking under one-sun irradiation, and > 90% of their initial value even after 1500 h of accelerated aging at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity. The bidirectional halide and silver migration cause irreversible chemical corrosion to electrodes and perovskite layer. Here, the authors employ 4,4'-dicyano-2,2'-bipyridine in the electron transport layer to coordinate silver and iodide, realizing stable solar cells with efficiency over 26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐inorganic metal halides with afterglow emission have attracted increasing attention due to their significantly longer afterglow duration and higher stability compared to their organic–inorganic hybrid counterparts. However, their afterglow colors have not yet reached the blue spectral region. Here, we report all‐inorganic copper‐doped Rb2AgBr3 single crystals with ultralong blue afterglow (>300 s) by modulating defect states through doping engineering. The introduction of copper(I) ions into Rb2AgBr3 facilitates the formation of bromine vacancies, thus increasing the density of trap states available for charge storage and enabling bright, persistent emission after ceasing the excitation. Moreover, cascade energy transfer between distinct emissive centers in the crystals results in ultra‐broadband photoluminescence, not only covering the whole white light with near‐unity quantum yield but also extending into the near‐infrared region. This 'cocktail' of exotic light‐emission properties, in conjunction with the excellent stability of copper‐doped Rb2AgBr3 crystals, allowed us to demonstrate their implementation to solid‐state lighting, night vision, and intelligent anti‐counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the development of optical technologies aimed at research, diagnostics and operation in a wide spectral range, the creation of new materials capable of being highly transparent and effective for transmitting electromagnetic waves in the visible, IR and THz regions is required. This article studies the properties of single crystals and two-phase ceramics based on solid solutions of the AgCl 0.25 Br 0.75 – TlCl 0.74 Br 0.26 and AgCl 0.25 Br 0.75 – TlBr 0.46 I 0.54 systems. The materials showed transparency in the range of 0.4–60.0 and 350–1500 μm (0.20–0.86 THz). With an increase in the proportion of thallium halides in the AgCl 0.25 Br 0.75 solid solutions, a shift and the transmission spectrum broadening to longer wavelengths was observed. These effects are typical for compounds with both Fm3m and Pm3 m type cubic crystal lattice. The refractive indices of the developed materials have normal wavelength dispersion and vary from 2.107 to 2.539 depending on the system and composition. The indicators for solid solutions with an intermediate composition of homogeneity regions lie within the values characteristic of boundary compositions. Based on this data a description of the index dependence by the Sellmeier equation, adapted by Fleming, was obtained. The refractive indices imaginary parts of all developed materials were 0.11*10−4–3.55*10−4, which was 2–4 times lower in comparison with other substances based on silver and thallium halides. The materials were characterized by a photostability improvement with an increase in the part of thallium halides in the solid solution, as well as with a growth in the amount of the orthorhombic phase in the case of two-phase ceramics. The materials showed low values of optical losses, as well as high functional properties. This makes single crystals and ceramics promising for transmission and fiber optics designed to operate in a wide spectral range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their potential to empower small portable electronic devices and the Internet of Things. After silicon solar cells, it is now widely acknowledged that the dominant technology in the field of outdoor photovoltaics/IPVs is hybrid lead (Pb) halide perovskites. Despite the fascinating characteristics of hybrid Pb halide perovskites, the presence of toxic Pb is regarded as one of the major factors that prevent commercialization. Low‐toxic, Pb‐free, and stable perovskites are also being used in outdoor solar cells (ODSCs), but their efficiencies are low due to large bandgap (i.e., ≈2.0 eV). Recently, some of the stable, Pb‐free perovskite materials have drawn great interest due to their initial performance across various fields, including light‐emitting diodes, photodetectors, X‐rays, photocatalysis, ODSCs, and in IPVs. In this perspective, the current status and prospects for Pb‐free halide perovskites, chalcogen perovskites, silver bismuth halide (AaBbXa + 3b) family, and other chalcogen materials are summarized and being explored to speed up the progress of IPVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the art of film photography has reemerged as a topic of interest for both researchers and the community. Unlike digital photography, which relies on pixels to capture and store information, film photography employs silver halide to capture the scene. This process imbues film photos with a unique colour and textured graininess not present in digital photography. In this paper, we propose Film-GAN, the first Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based method for translating digital images to film. Film-GAN generates a corresponding film transformation of the input image based on the desired reference film style. To improve the realism of the generated images, we introduce the colour-noise-encoding (CNE) network, which extracts the colour and graininess of the reference image separately. Our experimental simulations demonstrate that Film-GAN outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches on multiple datasets. Based on evaluations from both professional photographers and amateur photography enthusiasts, the images generated by Film-GAN also received a higher number of votes, indicating its ability to produce better film-effect images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of the program for the development of high-resolution photographic materials for research in neutrino physics, the possibility of obtaining a nuclear emulsion with a resolution that exceeds the known materials by 5 times has been shown. The sensitivity in such materials is maintained at a high level, sufficient for the registration of nuclear radiation. With an increase in the concentration of silver halide up to 80 wt %, nuclear photographic materials can be used to solve many physical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution‐processed ternary‐compound semiconductor AgBiS2 colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising light‐absorbing materials owing to their nontoxicity and high absorption coefficient (>106 cm−1). However, rational strategies to passivate multi‐facet of ternary‐compound CQDs and manufacture stable CQD inks have not yet been proposed. In this paper, a ligand passivation strategy is proposed using a solution‐phase ligand exchange method. A quadruple‐ligand ensemble is employed to demonstrate multifaceted passivation on AgBiS2 CQDs and a highly stable CQD ink. Density functional theory studies reveal the secondary cation adsorption of silver halide passivation, indicating the synergistic passivation of the ligand ensemble. This yields a low trap density in CQD solids, improving the power conversion efficiency to 8.1% by 53% in CQD solar cells. Furthermore, the proposed device exhibits the fastest response time of 400 ns among all reported AgBiS2 devices, demonstrating its potential for efficient lead‐free optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the photocatalytic activity of nanomaterials Ag/AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) is reported. Highly efficient silver halide (Ag/AgX where X = Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized using a range of techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) to check their structural, morphology, textural and optical properties. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts was evaluated through the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under UV and visible light irradiation. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of a single-phase structure (pure phase) in the synthesized photocatalysts. SEM micrographs showed agglomeration with a non-uniform distribution of particles, which is a characteristic of surfactant-free precipitation reactions in aqueous media. The Ag/AgBr photocatalyst exhibited the best degradation efficiency, resulting in 83.37% and 89.39% photodegradation after 5 h of UV and visible light irradiation, respectively. The effect of catalyst loading, initial solution pH, and 2,4-DCP concentration was investigated for the best-performing Ag/AgBr photocatalyst. The degradation kinetics were best described by the pseudo-first-order Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The photocatalytic capacity of Ag/AgBr decreased by 50% after five reuse cycles. SEM images revealed heightened levels of photodegradation on the catalyst surface. The study proved the feasibility of using simple synthesis methods to produce visible light active photocatalysts capable of degrading refractory phenolic pollutants in aqueous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review charts the early evolution of silver halide photographic technology in photo-mechanical printing for artwork reproduction. It concentrates on a key point in time around the 1890s and most specifically around 1895 as these dates are significant in this evolution. By this time dry gelatin Process and Half-tone plates were commercially available as an alternative to the wet collodion process and a comparison is made between these. The work contains references to the contemporary literature to aid further research and uses this to show how studies published on the spectral sensitivities and reciprocity behaviour of commercial products can provide an insight into the formulation of these materials. It places these products in context of the development of the photographic detection of X-rays and radioactivity and later products such as line film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology like high‐level parallel information processing and storage in the brain remains a dream to the researchers using conventional solid‐state electronics. Here, a robust thin film bilayer superionic dielectric of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and rubidium silver iodide (RbAg4I5) is developed to fabricate solid‐state iontronic synaptic memtransistors, which can serve as the basic building blocks for the hardware‐implementation of neuromorphic computing. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and impedance measurements precisely confirm the stoichiometric composition of RbAg4I5 and dielectric nature combining with a PEO layer, respectively. The superionic bilayer PEO/RbAg4I5 gating effectively modulates the channel conductance analogously and displays memtransistor functionality. Interestingly, the transfer curves depict a colossal hysteresis yielding negative differential transconductance of peak‐to‐valley ratio up to 5 × 103 after the gate‐controlled resistive switching. Systematic electrical characterizations reveal a variety of synaptic behaviors, including the inhibitory postsynaptic current, paired‐pulse depression, and potentiation/depression curve. Finally, an artificial neural network for off‐chip digit recognition is simulated to assess the performance of the device for the neuromorphic application and achieved a test accuracy of 95.94% on the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin crossover (SCO) materials with new architectures will expand and enrich the research in the SCO field. Here, we report two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing tetradentate organic ligands and hexatopic linkers [Ag8X8(CN)6]6− (X=Br and I), which represents the first SCO MOF with clusters as building blocks. The silver halide cluster can be further removed after reacting with lithium tetracyanoquinodimethan (LiTCNQ). Such post‐synthetic modification (PSM) is realized via single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SCSC) transformation from urk to nbo topology. Accordingly, the spin state and fluorescence properties are greatly modified by cluster deconstruction. Therefore, these achievements will provide new ideas for the design of new SCO systems and the development of PSM methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most antibacterial applications in nanotechnology are carried out using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). However, there is a dearth of information on the biological effects of AgNPs on human blood cells. In this study, the cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of ionic silver (Ag+), AgNP, silver bromide (AgBr), silver chloride (AgCl), and silver iodide (AgI) were evaluated through chromosome aberration (CA) test and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) test in human cultured lymphocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the potential damages that can cause to DNA were evaluated through alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay on isolated lymphocytes. The results showed that AgNPs exerted cytotoxic effects by reducing the cytokinesis-block proliferation index and mitotic index at 24 and 48 h. AgNPs also increased micronucleus (MN) formation at both exposure times in the cultured cells. Meanwhile, AgCl had no genotoxic effects on the human lymphocyte cultured cells but had a cytotoxic effect at high doses. AgNP, Ag+, AgBr, and AgI caused substantial DNA damage by forming DNA strand breaks. They may also have clastogenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on human lymphocyte cells. Based on the foregoing findings, silver nanomaterials may have genotoxic and cytotoxic potentials on human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, inorganic non‐metallic materials exhibit brittleness, and achieving plasticity in wide‐gap semiconductors or dielectrics poses an even greater challenge. Historically, silver halides have been suggested to be ductile; however, their deformability under different load modes has not been well demonstrated, and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, the authors demonstrate the excellent plasticity of AgCl and AgBr polycrystals at room temperature under tension, bending, compression, and roller pressing. In particular, the rolling reduction rate of AgCl/AgBr exceeds 97%, corresponding to the plastic extensibility from 3600% to 4200%. The metal‐like plasticity and multiple slip systems are attributed to the ionic features, specifically the Coulombic nature of the Ag‐Cl/Br interactions, and the appreciable polarization of the anions. Such less localized diffuse bonding can be readily switched upon atomic gliding, thus ensuring slip without cleavage. This study contributes to the advancement of the understanding and development of wide‐gap plastically deformable inorganic materials for applications in flexible, shape‐conformable high‐power electronics and dielectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformations in the S–AgNO3–NH4X–NH4NO3 (X = Cl, Br, I) system show that nanoparticles and nanocomposites with a controlled size of particles and content of components can be synthesized via mechanical treatment and adding small amounts of a liquid in which the precursors are soluble. Nanoparticles form in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium through conventional (continuous dissolution–crystallization) or reactive means (continuous dissolution of precursors and their reacting with subsequent crystallization of the target product), rather than by direct mechanical activation. The first version is used for synthesizing sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur); the second, for synthesizing silver halides. Sulfur-containing S/AgX nanocomposites with a controlled content of sulfur are synthesized mechanochemically. A predetermined content of nanosulfur in the nanocomposites is obtained via the dissolution–crystallization (recrystallization) of sulfur in DMSO inside a mechanochemical reactor. The proposed technical solution allows the synthesis of S/AgX nanocomposites through processing AgNO3, NH4X, and NH4NO3 (diluent) precursors, commercial sulfur, and small amounts of DMSO in planetary ball mills with different fittings. The water-soluble components of the product of mechanosynthesis are readily washed off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addition of triphenylcyclopropenium bromide to the thiocarbonyl complex [RhCl(CS)(PPh3)2] affords novel bicyclic metalla‐3‐mercapto‐thiapyrylliums [Rh(κ2‐C,S‐C5S2Ph3)(PPh3)2X2] (X=Cl, Br) – heterocycles with no metal‐free isolobal precedent. Halide abstraction with silver triflate (AgOTf) in acetonitrile affords the salt [Rh(κ2‐C,S‐C5S2Ph3)(NCMe)2(PPh3)2{Ag(OH2)2}{Ag(OTf)3}]‐OTf which in turn reacts with sodium chloride to return [Rh(κ2‐C,S‐C5S2Ph3)(PPh3)2Cl2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triassic (232–233 Ma) Ildeus mafic-ultrabasic massif is a fragment of a large mineralized magmatogenic system formed within the Stanovoy Mobile Belt at the Mesozoic stage of its evolution. Ultrabasic rocks are represented by cumulative plagioclase- and amphibole-bearing dunites, peridotites, websterites, and pyroxenites; basic rocks are gabbro-anorthosites, norites, and two-pyroxene gabbro. Most intrusive rocks of the Ildeus magmatogenic system experienced ultramafic (serpentine, chlorite, talc, and carbonates) and acidic (quartz, biotite, potassium feldspar, and secondary micas) metasomatism. Geochemical characteristics (calc-alkaline differentiation trend, negative anomalies of highly-charged incoherent elements) indicate the subduction nature of the primary magma in the Ildeus system. The ultrabasic rocks are intruded by intermediate-acidic intrusions with geochemical characteristics of adakite. Magmatic-stage silver mineralization is represented by microinclusions of cuprous silver, alloys of silver, copper, gold and zinc, acanthite and silver halides in association with pentlandite, chalcopyrite, bornite, and pyrrhotite. These rocks are characterized by microinclusions of native platinum, gold, tungsten, bismuth, lead, PGE alloys, W–Co–Ti, Sb–Pb, Cu–Zn–Sn, minerals of Ag–Cu–Sb–Se–S and Zn–Ni–Co–Fe–S systems, barite, chlorapatite and Bi–Sn–Pb chlorides. At the metasomatic stage, native silver, Au–Ag alloys, silver and copper chlorides, acanthite, silver and lead tellurides coexist with, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, native nickel and gold, Cu–Zn alloys, sulfides of the Pb–As–Cu–Fe–S and bismuth chloride. At the magmatic stage, silver minerals crystallized under reducing conditions in the presence of high-temperature aqueous fluids enriched in sulfide sulfur, halogens, and volatile siderophile (W, Pt) and chalcophile (Ag, Bi, Sn, Sb, and Pb) metals that entered the primary melt from serpentinites, metamorphosed gabbroids, and metal-bearing pelagic sediments of the subducting oceanic plate. Metasomatic parageneses of silver minerals were formed under oxidized near-surface conditions with the participation of low-temperature water–salt solutions with elevated concentrations of sulfate sulfur, arsenic, and tellurium. A two-stage model is proposed for the formation of silver mineralization in the island-arc magmatic systems, where the high-temperature magmatic stage of the formation in deep crustal parts is replaced by low-temperature hydrothermal ore formation processes in near-surface conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanocrystals are of considerable scientific interest because of their uses in electronics, catalysis, and spectroscopy, but the mechanisms by which nanocrystals nucleate and grow to achieve selective shapes are poorly understood. Ab initio calculations and experiments have consistently shown that the lowest energy isomers for small silver nanoparticles exhibit two-dimensional (2D) configurations and that a transition into three-dimensional (3D) configurations occurs with the addition of only a few atoms. We parameterized an e-ReaxFF potential for Ag nanoclusters (N ≤ 20 atoms) that accurately reproduces the 2D–3D transition observed between the Ag5 and Ag7 clusters. This potential includes a four-body dihedral term that imposes an energetic penalty to 3D structures that is significant for small clusters but is overpowered by the bond energy from out-of-plane Ag–Ag bonds in larger 3D clusters. The potential was fit to data taken from density-functional theory and coupled-cluster calculations and compared to an embedded atom method potential to gauge its quality. We also demonstrate the potential of e-ReaxFF to model redox reactions in silver halides and plasmon motion using molecular dynamics simulations. This is the first case in which e-ReaxFF is used to describe metals. Furthermore, the inclusion of a bond-order dependent dihedral angle in this force field is a unique solution to modeling the 2D–3D transition seen in small metal nanoclusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a 50 × 50 mm holographic optical element (HOE) with the property of a spherical mirror was recorded digitally on a silver halide photoplate using a wavefront printing method. It consisted of 51 × 96 hologram spots with each spot measuring 0.98 × 0.52 mm. The wavefronts and optical performance of the HOE were compared with those of reconstructed images from a point hologram displayed on DMDs of different pixel structures. The same comparison was also performed with an analog-type HOE for a heads-up display and with a spherical mirror. A Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor was used to measure the wavefronts of the diffracted beams from the digital HOE and the holograms as well as the reflected beam from the analog HOE and the mirror when a collimated beam was incident on them. These comparisons revealed that the digital HOE could perform as a spherical mirror, but they also revealed astigmatism—as in the reconstructed images from the holograms on DMDs—and that its focusability was worse than that of the analog HOE and the spherical mirror. A phase map, i.e., the polar coordinate-type presentation of the wavefront, could visualize the wavefront distortions more clearly than the reconstructed wavefronts obtained using Zernike polynomials. The phase map revealed that the wavefront of the digital HOE was more distorted than those of the analog HOE and the spherical mirror. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data concerning the synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of one of the practically important proteins—gelatin, as well as the possibilities of its practical application, are systematized and discussed. When considering the latter, emphasis is placed on the use of gelatin in those areas of science and technology that are associated with the specifics of the spatial/molecular structure of this high-molecular compound, namely, as a binder for the silver halide photographic process, immobilized matrix systems with a nano-level organization of an immobilized substance, matrices for creating pharmaceutical/dosage forms and protein-based nanosystems. It was concluded that the use of this protein is promising in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of [NiArBr(PPh3)2] with AgBF4 brings about the abstraction of both the halide and phosphine from the nickel center by silver. When the reaction is carried out in CH2Cl2/toluene a mixture of the cationic aquo derivatives [NiAr(H2O)(PPh3)2]BF4 (2) and [NiAr(H2O)2(PPh3)]BF4 (3) is formed, along with AgBr and [Ag(PPh3)n]BF4. When the same reaction is carried out in acetone as the solvent, it leads to the completely different complex [NiAr(κ2-O, O–MeC(O)CH2C(OH)Me2)(PPh3)] (5), bearing a chelating ligand formed by the aldol self-condensation of acetone. Phosphine abstraction by silver is less favorable for the analogous palladium(II) complexes and only occurs if a large excess of AgBF4 is used. Thus, silver salts can be safely used as halide scavengers for palladium derivatives. However, the generation of cationic Ni complexes from neutral precursors by halide extraction with a silver salt may produce naked species, different than those expected, and highly reactive in certain media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The task of this article is to update, develop and introduce into scientific practice the method of "mechanochemical recrystallization" in solid-phase systems with small additives of the liquid phase of the solvent and solid-phase precursors to stabilize the formed nanoparticles. The essence of this method is shown using the example of mechanical activation of the S–AgNO3–NH4X system, where X = Cl, Br, I, with the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and the resulting mechanochemical synthesis of sulfur-containing nanocomposites S/AgX with the controlled content of sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur). The predetermined content of nanosulfur in nanocomposites is ensured by a continuous process of dissolution-crystallization (recrystallization) of starting sulfur in the DMSO medium in a mechanochemical reactor. The proposed technical solution made it possible to obtain S/AgX nanocomposites by a single mechanical treatment of powder precursors – AgNO3, NH4Х, NH4NO3 (diluent), commercial sulfur and DMSO in planetary ball mills with various milling tools. The method also includes washing the water-soluble components of mechanosynthesis.

In recent years, silver halide (AgX, X = Cl, Br, I)-based photocatalytic materials have received increasing research attention owing to their excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance for applications in organic pollutant degradation, HER, OER, and biomedical engineering. Ag as a noble metal has a surface plasma effect and can form Schottky junctions with AgX, which significantly promotes electron transport and increases photocatalytic efficiency. Therefore, Ag/AgX can reduce the recombination rate of electrons and holes more than pure AgX, leading to using AgX as a photocatalytic material in biomedical applications. The use of AgX-based materials in photocatalytic fields can be classified into three categories: AgX (Ag/AgX), AgX composites, and supported AgX materials. In this review, we introduce recent developments made in biomedical applications and biosensing diagnostics of AgX (Ag/AgX) photocatalytic materials. In addition, this review also discusses the photocatalytic mechanism and applications of AgX (Ag/AgX) and supported AgX materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile compounds such as ethanol released from fruit can be rapidly detected using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy based on a long-path gas cell. However, this method relies on a long optical path length and requires pumping fruit volatiles into the gas cell. This can lead to the volatile compounds being contaminated and not detectable in situ. Fiber optic evanescent wave spectroscopy (FOEW) is not influenced by the path length so can detect materials (solid, liquid and gas phase) rapidly in situ, using only a few millimeters of optical fiber. In the present study, a spiral silver halide FOEW sensor with a length of approximately 21 mm was used to replace a long-path gas cell to explore the feasibility of identifying volatile compounds released from grapes in situ. The absorption peaks of ethanol in the volatile compounds were clearly found in the FOEW spectra and their intensity gradually increased as the storage time of the grapes increased. PCA analysis of these spectra showed clear clustering at different storage times (1-3, 4-5 and 6-7 d), revealing that the concentration of the ethanol released from the grapes changed significantly with time. The qualitative model established by PLS-DA algorithm could accurately classify grape samples as “Fresh,” “Slight spoilage,” or “Severe spoilage”. The accuracy of the calibration and validation sets both were 100.00%. These changes can therefore be used for rapidly identifying fruit deterioration. Compared with the method used in a previous study by the authors, this method avoids using a pumping process and can thus identify volatile compounds and hence monitor deterioration in situ and on-line by placing a very short optical fiber near the fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochromic coatings are attractive materials for achieving dynamic transmittance control in glazing. However, state-of-the-art photochromic materials are either not durable enough (the case of organic photochromic dyes), or not easily manufactured onto large glass panes (the case of silver halides). The requirements of durability and large area fabrication have hitherto hindered the application of photochromism in smart glazing. Thus, the importance of rare-earth oxyhydrides, which have emerged during the last decade as an inorganic (and hence, in principle, durable) photochromic family of materials that can be prepared onto large area glass panes by magnetron sputtering. In this work, we will discuss in detail the photochromic effect in oxyhydrides, how to prepare and optimize photochromic coatings with excellent switching kinetics, as well as answer other frequently asked questions when it comes to the applications of rare earth oxyhydrides in glazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energetic and mechanical stability of interstitial point defects in binary rock-salt materials were studied using the first-principles method. A novel, stable, and energetically competitive interstitial site (base-interstitial) was identified for anion interstitials in rock-salts. The formation energies of base-interstitial defects were compared with well-explored tetrahedral (body-interstitial) and split interstitials and were found to be energetically highly competitive. For alkali halides and silver bromide, the lowest formation energies are associated with the base-interstitial site and the <110> split interstitial, which are therefore the predominant interstitial sites. However, split interstitials were found to be the energetically preferred configuration in metal monochalcogenide systems. Electronic band structures are affected by the presence of interstitial defects in rock-salt structures. In particular, the Fermi level is shifted below the valence band maxima for the body, base, and split interstitials in metal halides, indicating p-type conductivity. However, the Fermi level remains within the bandgap for metal monochalcogenides, indicating no preferred conductivity for base- and split-interstitial defects. Allowing the defects to be charged changes the relative stability of the interstitial sites. However, the new base-interstitial site remains preferred over a range of potentials for alkali halides. The anion base-interstitial is found to form a triatomic entity with the nearest lattice anions that affect the electronic structure relative to the body interstitial. The discovery of a new interstitial site affects our understanding of defects in binary rock-salts, including structure and dynamics as well as associated thermodynamic and kinetic properties that are interstitial dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrode reactions of haloargentates were investigated in an aprotic and hydrophobic amide-type ionic liquid, 1-butyl-1- methylpyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (BMPTFSA) in the presence of the halide ions. Silver halides, AgX (X– = Cl–, Br–, and I–) were found to be soluble in BMPTFSA containing 0.5 M BMPX to form halogenocomplex, [AgX3]2–. The cathodic reduction of [AgX3]2– to metallic Ag was observed within the electrochemical potential window of the ionic liquid, while the reduction potential was lower than that in the ionic liquid in the absence of X–. The equilibrium potentials of [AgX3]2–/Ag were in the order of [AgCl3]2– > [AgBr3]2– > [AgI3]2–, probably reflecting the thermodynamic stability of the complexes. The diffusion coefficients of [AgCl3]2–, [AgBr3]2–, and [AgI3]2– were 2.5, 2.0, and 1.6 × 10–7 cm² s–1, respectively. The morphology of deposits strongly depended on the reduction potential. The nucleation and growth mechanism of Ag deposition was considered to be progressive rather than instantaneous. Formation of Ag nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids was confirmed after potentiostatic cathodic reduction at –2.5 V vs Ag∣Ag(I) using a transmission electron microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The luminescent properties of gelatin and the effect of its different types on the luminescent properties of silver halide microcrystals have been investigated. It is found that the photographic activity of gelatin can be determined from the phosphorescence duration. Possible mechanisms of the interaction of different gelatin types with the surface of AgHal microcrystals have been elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver(I) halides with pyridine-2-thione/pyrimidine-2-thione, have formed unprecedented triply bridged di-nuclear compound, [(κ1Cl)Ag(µ-Cl)(µ-P,P-Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2)(µ-S-pytH)Ag(κ1S-pytH))] 1, a polymeric product, {AgCl(κ1S-pytH)(µ-S-pytH)-} n, 2, in which each silver is bonded to a terminal chloride, a terminal sulfur as well as to two sulfur bridging thio-ligands. Interestingly, silver(I) bromide with PPh 3 and pyrimidine-2-thione in CHCl 3 , yielded an unsymmetrical bromo-bridged dinuclear compound, [(PPh 3) 2 Ag(µ-Br) 2 Ag(PPh 3)(κ1S-pymtH)] 3. A reaction of silver nitrate with pytH and PPh 3 ligand in presence of triethyl amine base designed to prepare, nonionic, [Ag(κ1S-pyt)(PPh 3) 3 ] compound, rather it formed a only an ionic complex, [Ag(κ1S-pytH)(PPh 3) 3 ](NO 3)·CH 3 OH·0.25H 2 O 4. [Display omitted] The chemical reactivity of heterocyclic-2-thiones towards silver halides in presence of donor ligands, such as tertiary phosphines, is poorly explored relative to that with other anions (such as NO 3 , OAc etc). It was observed in a research report that chemical reactivity of silver(I) chloride/bromide with pyridine-2-thione (pytH) in the presence of a tertiary phosphine, was different in terms of nuclearity. In this manuscript some unusual products from reactions of silver(I) halides with pyridine-2-thione (pytH)/pyrimidine-2-thione (pymtH) in presence of tertiary phosphines are reported. In one case, reaction of a bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) with silver(I) chloride yielded a crystalline product of stoichiometry, [Ag 2 Cl 2)(pytH) 2 (µ-P,P-Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2)] 1. Silver(I) chloride with pytH in the presence of tri-p-tolylphosphine ligand did not form the expected, AgCl(pytH)(p-tolyl 3 P) 2 complex, rather it has formed a compound of stoichiometry, {AgCl(pytH) 2 } 2. The crystal structures of these compounds revealed the formation of a triply bridged di-nuclear compound, [(κ1Cl)Ag(µ-Cl)(µ-P,P-Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2)(µ-S-pytH)Ag(κ1S-pytH)] 1, and a polymeric product, {AgCl(κ1S-pytH)(µ-S-pytH)-} n, 2 , respectively. The chemical reactivity of pyrimidine-2-thione (pymtH) is found to be different. A reaction of silver(I) bromide with PPh 3 and pymtH, yielded a bromo-bridged unsymmetrical dinuclear compound, [(PPh 3) 2 Ag(µ-Br) 2 Ag(PPh 3)(κ1S-pymtH)] 3. Reaction of AgNO 3 with pytH and PPh 3 in the presence of Et 3 N base did not yield the expected [Ag(κ1S-pyt)(PPh 3) 3 ] compound, rather it formed the ionic complex, [Ag(κ1S-pytH)(PPh 3) 3 ](NO 3)·CH 3 OH·0.25H 2 O 4. In compound 1 , there is a short Ag···Ag distance of 3.1127(3) Å, suggesting possibility of argentophillic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new variant of manufacturing high-frequency holographic gratings with a spatial frequency up to 1200 mm–1 on silver halide photographic material for holography PFG-01 is proposed, the processing technology of which is tanning bleaching in bleach containing dichromates and etching in water or in solutions of glacial acetic acid in isopropyl alcohol. The key point is the destructive effect on gelatin of short-wave UV radiation with a wavelength of less than 270 nm. During the experiments, relief-phase holographic gratings with high diffraction efficiency up to a value of 42% were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, original photographs were sent to publishers so that they could be reproduced in print. The photographs often needed to be reworked with overpainting and masking, and such modifications were especially necessary for low-contrast photographs to be reproduced as a letterpress halftone. As altered objects, many of these marked-up photographs were simply discarded after use. An album at The New York Public Library, however, contains 157 such photographs, all relating to the Jackson–Harmsworth expedition to Franz Josef Land, from 1894 to 1897. Received as gifts from publishers, the photographs are heavily retouched with overpainting and masking, as well as drawn and collaged elements. The intense level of overpainting on many of the photographs, but not on others, raised questions about their production and alteration. Jackson’s accounts attested to his practice of developing and printing photographs on site, testing different materials and techniques—including platino-bromide and silver-gelatin papers—to overcome the harsh environmental conditions. In this context, sixteen photographs from the album were analyzed through a combination of non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). This analytical campaign aimed to evaluate the possible residual presence of silver halides in any of the preliminary and improved photographs. The detection of these compounds would be one of several factors supporting a hypothesis that some of the photographs in the album were indeed printed on site, in the Arctic, and, as a result, may have been impacted by the extreme environment. Additional goals of the study included the evaluation of the extent of retouching, providing a full characterization of the pigments and dyes used in overpainted prints, and comparing the results with contemporaneous photographic publications that indicate which coloring materials were available at the time. Further analyses shed light on the organic components present in the binders and photographic emulsions. This research has increased our knowledge of photographic processes undertaken in a hostile environment such as the Arctic, and shed light on the technical aspects of photographically illustrating books during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[Display omitted] • Silver/silver iodide (Ag/AgI) with controllable size and silver content was fabricated by a surfactant-assisted protocol. • The spherical Ag/AgI samples with smaller size and higher Ag content displayed remarkable photocatalytic activity. • The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the synergistic effect of small size, Ag content of Ag/AgI and the active radicals. • Ag/AgI system exhibited a certain selective photocatalysis toward to MO and TC. Silver/silver halide (Ag/AgX) nanostructures have received extensive attention in the field of water purification. Among the Ag/AgX plasmonic photocatalysts, relatively few studies have been conducted to synthesize silver/silver iodide (Ag/AgI) systems under ambient conditions. Herein, the Ag/AgI structures with controllable Ag content and size can be fabricated by adjusting the concentration of silver nitrate (AgNO 3) while using iodine counterion-containing bola-type surfactants as templates and iodine sources. It has been found that the spherical Ag/AgI with smaller size and higher metallic Ag content exhibits superior catalytic performance for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline (TC) pollutants compared to the larger size Ag/AgI with lower Ag content. Interestingly, the sphere-like Ag/AgI with sizes of 200 ∼ 500 nm display enhanced photo-degradation performance toward to the TC molecules compared to the rod-like Ag/AgI construction, whereas the pyrolysis of MO exhibits an opposite result. This may be attributed to the synergistic effects of small size, moderate Ag content and the active radicals. This study might suggest a convenient pathway for the fabrication of Ag/AgI configurations with controllable Ag content and size as well as for accelerating catalytic performance of Ag/AgX-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A total of 185 mononuclear N -heterocyclic carbenes silver complexes are included. • Out of the 100 N -heterocyclic carbenes silver acetates reviewed, complexes 38 and 57 showed superior antimicrobial activity. • From the 57 N -heterocyclic carbenes silver chlorides included, complexes 137 , 139 , and 182 exhibited the best antimicrobial activity. • From the 25 N -heterocyclic carbenes silver bromides presented, complex 170 displayed the best antimicrobial activity. • From the 3 N -heterocyclic carbenes silver iodides existing, complexes 184 and 185 revealed good antimicrobial activity. NHCs (N -heterocyclic carbenes) are generally used as organic ligands that can coordinate with metal ions like silver to form stable complexes. These complexes have shown enhanced antimicrobial properties compared to silver alone. This document provides an overview of the reported NHC-based silver derivatives (acetates, chlorides, bromides, and iodides) who possess antimicrobial activity. This review covers articles published between the first report (2006) and 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the past decade has witnessed great successes in silver/silver halide‐based (Ag/AgX, X = Cl,Br) plasmonic photocatalysts, a facile fabrication of ultrafine Ag/AgX nanoparticles (NPs), which is recognized to be an efficient avenue for boosted catalytic performances, still remains a formidable challenge. Ultrasmall sub‐10‐nm Ag/AgX, which are discretely distributed on graphene oxide (GO, sub10‐Ag/AgX/GO), can be easily fabricated by an oxidation–halogenation treatment of Ag/GO precursors of sub‐10‐nm AgNPs (sub10‐Ag/GO). Significantly, compared to Ag/AgCl/GO and Ag/AgBr/GO of hundred‐nanometer‐sized Ag/AgX, the sub10‐Ag/AgCl/GO and sub10‐Ag/AgBr/GO display substantially enhanced photocatalytic activity by a factor of ≈16.4 and 38.2 times, respectively, despite their inconspicuous visible‐light absorptions. The ultrafine size of the sub10‐Ag/AgX and their grafting on but not being enwrapped by GO, which cooperatively facilitate a superior spatial separation capability of photogenerated electrons and holes, a satisfactory accessibility/availability of the abundantly exposed active sites, and consequently promote a more efficient utilization of photogenerated charge carriers, play important roles in their superior catalytic activities. The investigation initiates a new way for ultrafine Ag‐based nanocomposites, and by a simple treatment of chemically modifiable ultrasmall‐sized precursors, it provides new clues for other desired ultrafine‐sized advanced nanomaterials that are difficult to synthesize via conventional protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new synthesis method of S/AgBr nano/micropowder based on sulfur and silver halide was developed. The nano/micropowder was obtained in the DMSO-water system, in two stages. Initially, sulfur was dissolved in DMSO at 120°C. The resulting solution was cooled to room temperature and separated from sulfur by filtration. Then, pre-prepared water solutions of AgNO3 and NaBr were introduced drop by drop into a sulfur solution in DMSO, at room temperature. The phase composition and structure of the precipitated powdery sediment were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology and particle size. XRD showed the presence of the crystalline phase of AgBr, while the Raman spectra were characterized by the presence of sulfur and AgBr peaks. The SEM results showed that the S/AgBr is represented by oval, spherical and triangular particles of a homogeneous structure; the particle size was in the range from 300 to 800 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) coupled with Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) method are carried out to calculate the electronic structures of AgX (X; Br, Cl, and F). The effect of hybridizing between 4d orbital of Ag element and the p orbitals of the X in the valence band plays a very important role in the total density of states configuration. The electronic structure has been studied and all results were compared with the experimental and theoretical values. The importance of this work is that there are insufficient studies of silver halides corresponding the great importance of these compounds. Almost all the results were consistent with the previous studies mentioned here. We found the band gap of AgX to be 2.343 eV, 2.553 eV, and 1.677 eV for AgBr, AgCl, and AgF, respectively, which are in good agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overcoming defects through effective modification methods have become the main method for material performance optimization. In this paper, AgI nanoparticles were loaded on the hollow multi-shell ZnO microspheres through a chemical precipitation method, and the composites with a hollow multi-shell structure were successfully constructed. The formation of heterojunctions between these two semiconductors alleviates the photo-corrosion phenomenon for ZnO, and then the composite exhibits higher photocatalytic stability. On the other hand, the introduction of narrow band-gap AgI effectively reduces the optical band gap of ZnO. The photocatalytic performance of the composite was evaluated through the ciprofloxacin (CIP) photodegradation and H2 evolution under simulated solar irradiation. The results show that when the ratio of AgI was controlled 7%, the AgI/ZnO composite shows the best CIP photodegradation performance with an apparent rate constant of 0.0463 min−1 (5.26 times as the rate of ZnO), and the photocatalytic H2 production rate reaches 2.725 mmol/g/h. The structure and photoelectric property characterization indicate that the boost of the photocatalytic property for AgI/ZnO composites is major due to improve light absorption region, strengthen of e−/h+ separation, and promotion of the electron transfer efficiency. Combined with free radical capture experiments and theoretical calculations, the possible catalytic mechanism of heterojunction catalysts is proposed. Moreover, this work provides a direction in building multi-shelled ZnO heterojunction photocatalysts with silver halides modification and investigating the mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) coupled with ) method are carried out to calculate the electronic structures of AgX (X; Br, Cl, and F). The effect of hybridizing between 4d orbital of Ag element and the p orbitals of the X in the valence band plays a very important role in the total density of states configuration. The electronic structure has been studied and all results were compared with the experimental and theoretical values. The importance of this work is that there is insufficient studies of silver halides corresponding the great importance of these compounds. Almost all the results were consistent with the previous studies mentioned here. We found the band gap of AgX to be 2.343 eV, 2.553 eV, and 1.677 eV for AgBr, AgCl, and AgF respectively which are in good agreement with the experimental results.

The silver nanoparticle surface relief gratings of ~10 µm period are fabricated using electron beam lithography on the silver halide film substrate. Morphological characterization of the gratings shows that the period, the shape, and the relief depth in the gratings are mainly dependent on the number of lines per frame, the spot size, and the accelerating voltage of electron beam raster in the SEM. Optical absorption of the silver nanoparticle gratings provides a broad localized surface plasmon resonance peak in the visible region, whereas the intensity of the peaks depends on the number density of silver nanoparticles in the gratings. The maximum efficiency of ~7.2% for first order diffraction is observed for the grating fabricated at 15 keV. The efficiency is peaking at 560 nm with µ380 nm bandwidth. The measured profiles of the diffraction efficiency for the gratings are found in close agreement with the Raman-Nath diffraction theory. This technique provides a simple and efficient method for the fabrication of plasmonic nanoparticle grating structures with high diffraction efficiency having broad wavelength tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • One step polyol-solvothermal methodology designed for creating the 0D, 1D, 2D and 3D silver. • This methodology eliminated the old traditional factors (stirring/injection speed, etc). • With the produced gases during reaction can directly control the dimensional morphologies. The common polyol techniques were used for the synthesis of solo metallic morphology. Here we reported the single-step polyol-solvothermal strategy for the synthesis of zero, one, two, and three-dimension silver structure by simply switching the reaction pressure with the help of silver amount and halide ions. Silver seeds in the presence of Cl- ion, at 74.1 mmHg grow in [1 1 1] and at 97.4 mmHg grow in [1 1 0] direction for the formation of 0D-Ag and 1D-Ag respectively, by protecting (1 0 0) facet. Extra halide (Br-) presence at 93.2 mmHg imposes the seeds to grow [1 1 0], [1 0 0] direction for 2D-Ag, while at 97.4 mmHg grow only in [1 0 0] direction for 3D-Ag, due to etching and formation of single crystal seeds. This closed reaction system doesn't need any kind of oxygen scavengers, inert gases, nor need to tune injection speed and stirring speed. This switching strategy can be implemented for the synthesis of other metallic morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino-acyl-quinoxalinone yellow dyes are cyclised analogues of the yellow azomethine dyes developed for, and still used in, silver halide colour photography. Unlike image azomethine dyes, which are rapidly deactivated in their excited states by torsion about the azomethine bond, amino-acyl-quinoxalinone dyes have an interesting photophysics because torsion is not possible due to their cyclised structure. We report results from studies on singlet and triplet state properties, and singlet oxygen yields, of the yellow dye, 7-diethylamino-3-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyl)-5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-quinoxalin-2-one, in polar and nonpolar solvents. The dye photophysics is characterised by a weak fluorescence, with a solvent dependent emission yield (ΦF ≈ 0.002–0.004), and short singlet state lifetime (τexpt ≈ 20–50 ps), both increasing by a factor of ≈2 in going from polar acetonitrile to non-polar dioxane as solvent. DFT ZINDO calculations show a transition involving significant electron transfer from the diethyl-amino group into the carbonyl region of the molecule. In solution, in the presence of oxygen, the triplet state decays almost exclusively by oxygen quenching, and singlet oxygen is produced in high yield (Φ∆ ≈ 0.5–0.55). The triplet state absorbs across the 450–750 nm region with maxima around 480 and 650 nm, and moderate molar absorption coefficients (ca. 6000–8000 M−1 cm−1). In a glass at 77 K, triplet decay gives a red phosphorescence, with λmax ≈ 640–650 nm, and a ≈ 0.25 s lifetime. If singlet oxygen yields are a good indication of triplet yields, then internal conversion and intersystem crossing occur with roughly equal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasmonic responses of silver nanoparticle grating structures of different periods made on silver halide based electron microscope film are investigated. Raster scan of the conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to carry out electron beam lithography for fabricating the plasmonic nanoparticle grating (PNG) structures. Morphological characterization of the PNG structures, carried out by the SEM and the atomic force microscope, indicates that the depth of the groove decreases with a decrease in the grating period. Elemental characterization performed by the energy dispersive spectroscopy and the x-ray diffraction shows the presence of nanoparticles of silver in the PNG grating. The optical characterization of the gratings shows that the localized surface plasmon resonance peak shifts from 366 to 378 nm and broadens with a decrease in grating period from 10 to 2.5 μm. The surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of the Rhodamine-6G dye coated PNG structure shows the maximum enhancement by two orders of magnitude in comparison to the randomly distributed silver nanoparticles having similar size and shape as the PNG structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, highly efficient silver halide (Ag/AgX where X= Cl, Br, I), photocatalysts were successfully synthesized through hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). All three compounds were confirmed to be pure with the associated planes being identified. The photocatalytic activity of these photocatalysts were evaluated through the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-2,4-DCP) under UV and visible light irradiation. Variant photocatalytic efficiency was exhibited dependent on the material used. The Ag/AgBr photocatalysts exhibited the best efficiency among all three catalysts, resulting in an 83.37 % and 89.39 % photodegradation under UV and visible light after 5 h, respectively, at a catalyst loading of 0.5 g/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phase diagrams of the system AgCl – Br – AgI were studied. • Single crystals and ceramic data systems have been obtained. • Materials are transparent from 0.4 to over 41.7 µm. The development of infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) optical materials is work, that is connected with prospective applications in wide-spectral systems, medicine, IR and THz techniques. This work is focused on the development of new optical materials based on silver halides in the AgCl – AgBr – AgI system, selection of technological modes, preparation of single crystals and optical ceramics and investigation of their optical properties. The phase diagram of the AgCl – AgI system was refined, and a new phase diagram of AgCl – AgBr 0.7 I 0.3 was investigated and constructed. In both diagrams, homogeneity and heterogeneity regions were found. In the AgCl – AgI diagram, the homogeneity region covers the concentration range from 0 to 7 mol. % AgI in AgCl, and the heterogeneity region from 7 to 98 mol. % AgI in AgCl. The phase diagram of AgCl – AgBr 0.7 I 0.3 shows two regions of homogeneity in the concentration ranges of 0–49 and 78–100 mol. % AgBr 0.7 I 0.3 in AgCl and one heterogeneous region from 47 to 87 mol. % AgBr 0.7 I 0.3 in AgCl. In both systems in the regions of homogeneity it is possible to grow single crystals of the cubic NaCl crystal structure, space group Fm3m. For compositions of heterogeneous regions, it is possible to synthesize two-phase optical ceramics based on the cubic phase Fm3m and the hexagonal β-modification of AgI of wurtzite type (P6 3 mc). The results of studies of phase diagrams of AgCl – AgI and AgCl – AgBr 0.7 I 0.3 allowed us to determine the concentration ranges in the quasi three-component isothermal section of the AgCl – AgBr – AgI system. The obtained results allowed us to determine the compositions and select optimal technological modes, according to which single crystals of AgCl 0.85 Br 0.10 I 0.05 , AgCl 0.72 Br 0.19 I 0.09 , AgCl 0.58 Br 0.29 I 0.13 , AgCl 0.97 I 0.03 and AgCl 0.94 I 0.06 compositions were grown and optical ceramics of AgCl 0.14 Br 0.60 I 0.26 composition were synthesized. The structure of the materials was determined by SEM analysis. The studied transmission ranges showed that single crystals and optical ceramics transmit radiation in the range from 0.48 to 41.7 μm and more with a maximum transparency level of up to 83 %. There are no absorption windows in the transmission spectra of the materials, which allows the developed optical materials to be used in the specified spectral ranges as transmission optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The discovery, i n 1970, of the “electrotopographic” effect on halogen-silver photographic materials contributed to the appearance of the photograph of a new kind, later called “electro-fi eld photography”. The development of the physical and mathematical model of the kinetics of the electro-fi eld coalescence of silver atoms in its halide microcrystals in 2014 allowed substantiating the previously existing theoretical and applied aspects of the process and predicting the conditions for controlling it. This paper is dedicated to the experimental verifi cation of the infl uence of the cr yothermic and anion-impurity factors on this process in the form of iodine ions, replacing bromine ions in silver halide microcrystals. Methods and methodology. The study of the thermal infl uence was carried out on commercially available fi lms for radiographs “Agfa” and “Retina”, as well as on specially made photographic fi lms with AgBr microcr ystals with a decreased temperature compared to the standard 298 K. The study of the effect of anion-impurity factors was tested on specially manufactured photographic fi lms with mixed AgHal microcrystals with different amounts of iodine ions and bromine ions. Results and conclusions. Using both commercially produced fi lms for radiographs and specially made fi lms showed the gain in the coalescence process of silver atoms affected by the electric fi eld with a decrease in temperature from 298 to 292 K, or a 5% substitution of bromine ions to iodine ions in AgBr crystals at 298 K. A certain correlation was found between the optical density of the electro-fi eld images and their dimensions with voltage impulses of varying polarity. Regardless of the thermal or anion-impurity factor, the parameter x appears to be smaller than c with the impulse of the same polarity, and vice versa with the impulse of the opposite polarity. An exception to this rule was the “Retina” fi lm. This can be due to its exposure to the electric fi eld through the base of the “Agfa” fi lm. The effects x and c for the “EPhM-45” fi lm, while retaining the described correlation, have opposing qualities, which is obviously due to the presence of two phases of microcrystals in a photo-emulsion consisting of a pure AgI and AgHal with a mixed composition of halogens.